What You Can Do

5 August 2002

It was recently confirmed by the Tibet Information Network (TIN) that four of the 'Drapchi 14' nuns have been released over the past few months, bringing the total number of early releases of political prisoners to six in 2002. On June 21, Ngawang Choezom was released nine months early and became the fourth member of the 'Drapchi 14' nuns to be released. The 'Drapchi 14 ' were a group of nuns who had secretly made tape recordings of pro-independence songs in 1993 that were then smuggled out to the outside world, resulting in sentence extensions for all when the authorities found out. Only three of the original and most high profile of the 'Drapchi 14' now remain in prison and all have served 10 years - Ngawang Sangdrol, Phuntsog Nyidrol and Namdrol Lhamo.

Ngawang Choezom had originally been sentenced to five years imprisonment for "engaging in subversive activities" after she had taken part in a peaceful protest in March 1992. Her sentence was then extended by six years for her part in the secret recording of pro-independence songs. At the time of her release she had served 10 years of an 11 year sentence. It is thought that she too was released on medical parole. The three other 'Drapchi 14' nuns released early in 2002 were Gyaltsen Drolkar and Tenzin Thubten who had been due for release in August 2002 and Ngawang Choekyi, who had been due for release in 2005. All of them had originally been imprisoned for peaceful protest and suffered severe ill-treatment whilst in Drapchi prison, particularly following the disturbances of 1st & 4th May 1998.

Of the remaining 'Drapchi 14' nuns, it is thought that Palden Choedrom and Ngawang Tsamdrol may have already been released, given that their sentences expired in January and May 2002. A further two nuns had already been released in 1999. The 14th nun, Ngawang Choekyi died just one year short of completing her sentence in February 2001 of acute (necrotizing) pancreatitis, respiratory and heart failure, demonstrating the effects of torture, maltreatment,and the lack of medical attention for prison inmates at Drapchi.

The first high profile release of a political prisoner began with Ngawang Choephel in January 2002 on medical parole following an international campaign on his behalf. In March 2002, 74 year old Jigme Sangpo, the longest serving political prisoner in Tibet of 28 years was also freed on medical parole. China allowed Jigme to leave Tibet for medical treatment in the USA in July 2002, like Ngawang Choephel before him. However, it was a highly unusual move, as China usually does not allow long-serving political prisoners like Jigme to leave Tibet given their experience of imprisonment. A recent statement by Jigme on reaching the USA indicates that he believes that his release was the result of international pressure: "My release on medical parole by the Chinese government...and arrival in the United States on July 13 is the triumph of peace, justice and human rights. It is the result of many years of campaign and pressure by Tibet supporters, governments, individuals and public organizations in the international community as well as within and outside of Tibet."

During the course of the UK/China government bilateral dialogue in May 2002 it was revealed that Ngawang Sangdrol had her sentence cut by a year and a half after showing "signs of repentance". The Chinese authorities state that she will be released on 3 November 2011, contradicting previous information that her sentence was running to 23 years with three sentence extensions. Phuntsog Nyidrol also had her sentence reduced for similar reasons by a year and isdue for release in 2005 after serving 16 years. Namdrol Lhamo is serving 12 years and is due for release in 2004.

TIN has documented that political prisoner numbers are falling with long-term prisoners completing their sentences . The absence of the protests that marked the late 1980s and early 1990s and the reduction in number of new political prisoners is testimony to the extent to which China has managed to crackdown on all forms of protest quickly and punitively. Moreover, the release of political prisoners back into the community also provides the authorities with the opportunity to further harass and intimidate them as well as enabling the authorities to send a clear message to all Tibetans of how dissenters will be treated.

Life for political prisoners is consequently very hard. The majority of political prisoners are monks and nuns and are not allowed to return to their monastery or nunnery and find it almost impossible to get a job as a result of their previous imprisonment.

However, it is also true that these early releases also signify the growing pressure that China is coming under to release long-term political prisoners, as well as a realisation of the political costs to its reputation of holding these people. It is highly significant that Xinhua, the official news agency of the Chinese regime, published a series of articles in May 2002 which sought to present a more idyllic picture of the prison and to rebut the testimonies of torture and ill-treatment received by political prisoners after they fled into exile. The impetus for these articles appeared to be the letters received from "foreigners" calling for the release of political prisoners and asking for improvements in conditions within the prison. The articles also coincided with the international speaking tour of Tibetan nuns Chuye Kunsang and Passang Lhamo, which was coordinated by Free Tibet Campaign and Amnesty International. Chuye and Passang had spent four and five years respectively in Drapchi prison and witnessed at first hand the horrors of imprisonment. They reported that all political prisoners who had taken part in the 1st and 4 th May 1998 protests were beaten so badly that their health continues to suffer.

Their struggle, and ours, for Tibetan human rights needs to continue. Please take action now.

Demands

 

Write to the Central, local and prison authorities calling for the immediate release of Ngawang Sangdrol, Phuntsog Nyidrol, Namdrol Lhamo and all political prisoners. Express your concern at reports of continued torture and ill-treatment in Drapchi prison and ask that this be stopped.

 

Point out that Ngawang Sangdrol, Phuntsog Nyidrol and Namdrol Lhamo were extremely young when sentenced and are in ill-health. They have served 10 years already and the song recordings, which they all received sentence extensions for, took place in 1993. At the moment, Ngawang Sangdrol's sentence is 19 years; Phuntsog's 16 years; and Namdrol's 12 years.

 

Please also send copies of your letters to Xinhua news agency as this may help provoke further early releases.

 

Send a copy of your letter to China's UK Ambassador (the present Ambassador, Mr Ma Zhengang is in the process of leaving, so please address it simply to the Ambassador as his replacement has not been officially announced yet).

1. (Ministry of Justice)
Zhang Fusen Buzhang
Sifabu
Xiaguangli
Beijingshi 100016
People's Republic of China
Telexes: 210070 FMPRC CN or 22478 MFERT CN
(Please ask telex to be forwarded to Minister of Justice)
Telegram: Minister of Justice, Beijing, China
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

2. (Director of Tibet Justice Department)
Meng Deli Juzhang
Sifabu
Duodilu, Lasashi 850000
Xizang Zizhiqu
People's Republic of China
(Salutation: Dear Director)

3. (Prison Governor of TAR Prison No 1 - Drapchi Prison)
Jianyuzhang
Xizang Zizhiqu Di Yi Jianyu
Lasashi 850003
Xizang Zizhiqu
People's Republic of China
(Salutation: Dear Sir)

Please also send copies to:

4. (The Chinese Ambassador to the UK)
His Excellency The Ambassador
Chinese Embassy
49-51 Portland Place
London W1N 3AH
Fax: 020 7636 2981
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

5. (Xinhua News Tibet branch - www.xz.xinhua.org)
Xizang Xinhua
Lasashi 850000
Xizang Zizhiqu
People's Republic of China
Phone/fax: 00 86 8911 632 2312
(Salutation: Dear Sir)