Urgent Campaign 21 October 2002
(Please contact Free Tibet Campaign if acting after 28 Feb 2003)

On 17 October 2002, Ngawang Sangdrol, the Tibetan nun serving the longest sentence of any female political prisoner in Tibet was released nine years early on "good behaviour parole". Her sentence of 21 years for pro-independence activities included three sentence extensions and she had not been due for release until 3 November 2011 (following a sentence reduction of a year and a half in October 2001). Ngawang is now with her family in Lhasa but her health is of continued concern, given the number of beatings she received during her imprisonment. Further action is needed urgently, to ensure that Ngawang has access to whatever medical attention she needs, and has the freedom to leave Tibet with members of her family if she wishes to.

Free Tibet Campaign welcomes Ngawang's release after many years of campaigning on her behalf by Tibet supporters in this country and internationally. It is clearly intended to smooth the path for this week's visit to the USA of Jiang Zemin, his last as President of China. The Chinese Government has frequently released a political prisoner in advance of a US/China summit, though until 2002 no Tibetan political prisoner had benefitted. Ngawang's release brings the total of Tibetan political prisoners released since January 2002 to seven. Her release comes hard on the heels of the visit in early September by two envoys of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and China for 'talks about talks'. This is the first significant official contact between the Tibet Govenment in exile and the Chinese Government since contact was broken off in 1993.

"The release of Ngawang Sangdrol is of enormous consequence to campaigners all around the world, and a just reward for our efforts, fighting the injustice of her imprisonment for merely expressing her opinions," said Alison Reynolds, Director of Free Tibet Campaign. "However, Tibet remains under occupation and the real test, of whether Ngawang's release and the opening of communication with the Tibetan Government represents a genuine sea-change, will come when this US visit and the political manoeuvrings in Beijing are out of the way. The onus is on China to prove its sincerity and keep this momentum going well beyond the forthcoming Party Congress."

The 16th Party Congress opens in Beijing on 8 November, where Jiang is expected to relinquish the position of Communist Party Secretary in favour of President-elect Hu Jintao. Over the summer, Jiang Zemin has been consolidating his long-term position in the Communist Party, and may retain Chairmanship of the Central Military Commission. Jiang's future influence seems largely based on his experience and ability in 'handling' Sino-US relations. The Dui Hua Foundation, which is based in San Francisco and was involved in the negotiations for Ngawang's release specifically acknowledged the efforts of the US Administration on her behalf.

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