(Please contact Free Tibet Campaign if acting after 30 July 2003)

In a case that has only recently come to light, it would appear that a 47 year old amputee woman called Anu has been detained for almost 2 years without charge. She was sent to Trisam Re-education through Labour centre in October/November 2001 and was assigned to serve three years. Anu was arrested late at night in March 2001 by members of the Public Security Bureau (police). It is unclear about the reason for her arrest although unconfirmed reports suggest that she may have been accused of possessing 'separatist' material which may have included leaflets from the Tibet exile community in India that had been distributed in Lhasa.

Anu is thought to be compelled to work long arduous hours despite her physical disability. Local officials tend to use re-education through labour as a way to punish those seen as being political dissidents or 'anti-social elements'. This punishment is for offences deemed not to be serious enough for the criminal justice system and results in a deprivation of liberty of between one to four years. It is a system that courts abuse and contravenes the basic rules of justice.

Conditions at Trisam centre raise grave concerns, particularly for political prisoners. Four political prisoners are known to have died as a result of abuse at Trisam from 1995 to 1998. The youngest was Sherab Ngawang who was just 17 years old when she died in detention. She had been tortured, sometimes with an electric cattle prod. The other three political detainees died soon after their release. Other concerns include inadequate and late health provision, poor hygiene, strenuous work and poor food; all contributing to the poor health and condition of inmates.

At the moment, Anu is the only political prisoner held at Trisam. The other political prisoners had been scheduled for transfer to Drapchi prison according to records held by the Tibet Information Network. She is thus without the support of fellow political prisoners. She has not been given access to her family or friends either face to face or by correspondence since her detention. This contravenes Rule 37 of the UN Standard Minimum Riles of Treatment of Prisoners.

Anu is known to suffer from acute headaches (migraines), particularly when she is tired or under stress. Her treatment may well contravene the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules of Treatment of Prisoners that states that "Prison labour must not be of an afflictive nature. All prisoners under sentence shall be required to work, subject to their physical and mental fitness as determined by the medical officer". (Rule 7.2)

(source: Amnesty International Urgent Action, December 2002)

Please write to those listed below expressing your concern that Anu has been detained without charge or trial and call for her immediate and unconditional release: