HUMAN RIGHTS update is a monthly newsletter of the Reg. no: HP/DMA/105/2008-2010 Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. www.tchrd.org

OCTOBER 2009 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2 Executes Four Tibetans In

CONTENT Over Spring 2008 Protest

-China Execute Four Tibetans In Lhasa Over TCHRD condemns in strongest term China’s execution of Spring 2008 Protest (pg 1) four Tibetans - Tibetan Schools closed down in (pg 2 dead body was later known to have ) The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights been immersed in Kyichu River. and Democracy (TCHRD) has There is no information on whether -A Tibetan returnee from India sentence to received confirmed information from 15 years in prison( pg 4) the defendants appealed their

-Eleven missing monks of Pangsa Monastery (pg 3)

-Three Tibetans arrested in during the 60th Founding Anniversay of PRC (pg 5)

-Three Tibetans sentenced in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province (pg 5)

-Tibetans arrested after participating in an insene burning ritual (pg 5)

-Another Tibetan returnee sentenced to 14 years in prison (pg 6)

- Three Tibetan monks sentenced to various prison terms (pg 6)

-A Tibetan monk arrested after raid his resident (pg 6)

TCHRD ACTIVITIES BULLETIN Loyak executed on 20 Octcober 2009 -TCHRD organised talk series on Human reliable sources that Lobsang Gyaltsen, Rights and Democracy in South India (pg sentences to the Supreme People’s 7) Loyak, Penkyi and an unnamed Court after Lhasa Municipal Tibetan were executed on Tuesday, 20 -TCHRD briefs Nobel Laureates (pg 7) Intermediate People’s Court October 2009 under the supervision sentenced Lobsang Gyaltsen and of the Lhasa Municipality Loyak to death on 8 April 2009. Intermediate People’s Court for their According to the Chinese official alleged involvement in last year’s mass mouthpiece dated 8 April 2009, protest in the Tibetan capital. Further Lhasa Municipal Intermediate information is awaited. No People’s Court sentenced two people information on their execution was to death (Lobsang Gyaltsen and reported anywhere in the Chinese Loyak), two to suspended death state media. penalties (Tenzin Phuntsok and According to sources, the dead Kangtsuk) and another (Dawa body of Lobsang Gyaltsen, from Sangpo) to life imprisonment on Lubug on the outskirt of Lhasa city, charges of arson causing death. The was handed over to his family and his five were convicted of torching five TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY shops in Lhasa, killing seven people, Tibetan schools closed down in Tibet during the March 14 riot. On 21 April 2009 the same The Chinese authorities in Driru He tesified to TCHRD, “earlier in court, according to the State media, County, Nagchu Prefecture (‘TAR’) 2007, a local Tibtean teacher Tenzin sentenced three Tibetans (Penkyi of shut down schools run by Tibetans Thapkhey built a Vocational Nyemo County and Penkyi of Sakya on alleged grounds of political County and Chime of Namling activism County) to suspended death, life and 10 years’ imprisonment respectively for setting fires that allegedly killed six people in Lhasa last year. The Centre is highly concerned about the fate of Tibetans who were on suspended death sentences. The PRC government currently sentences more people to death each year than any other nation in the world. TCHRD condemns the executions of four Tibetans and urges PRC government to show restraint and to grant its citizens fair trials and to abide by the basic human rights Students group photo session of all of its peoples, regardless of their Education School with financial ethnicity. in early 2009. Nyima Dhondup assistances from International Red TCHRD remains unconditionally from Dhar village (Penka Township, Cross society. There were around opposed to the use of the death Driru County, Nagchu Prefecture 250 students and 20 teachers and penalty in all cases as a violation of (‘TAR’) was a former student of staffs in the school. The primary aim the fundamental right to life and the Vocational Education School who of the school was to empower large right not to be subjected to cruel, testified to the Tibetan Centre for number of Tibetan populace who inhuman or degrading treatment or Human Rights and Democracy lacks basic modern education to lead punishment. It should also be noted (TCHRD) after coming into exile in a better life. It was on these very that the death penalty has never India. reasons Tibetans like Tenzin shown to have a special deterrent effect nor should state use it to justify the wrong done by the defendant. For instance in the case of two Tibetans (Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak) the state media earlier reported that both “have to be executed to assuage the people’s anger.” Such eyeball for eyeball approach is in no way a justification of giving death sentence. The execution of four Tibetans are further proof of China’s unwillingness to abide by the United Nations Global Moratorium on the Death Penalty, adopted in 2007, which establishes a suspension on executions with the view to abolish the death penalty. Graduates students posing for the group photo

2 HUMAN RIGHTS update • OCTOBER 2009 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY Thabkhey established the school been cases of the parents rushing in learning takes place in the school. with foreign monetary assistances. to admit their children in the school In its appalling state of affairs, the The education in the school was by withdrawing their children from local Tibetans who once looked given free of cost, except for the mid schools run by Chinese upon the school as model learning day lunch. In addition, one of the government. centre was now filled with grief and primary aims of the school was to The school earned its reputation remorse. preserve the Tibetan culture, in Nagchu County as one that truly tradition and heritage passed down dedicated itself towards the Other cases of School closure: for the last many centuries, which propagation of education and the has been facing serious threats of dissemination of knowledge. In Similarly, there were other reported discontinuity amidst the fast Nyima Dhondup’s case, his cases of school closures similar to changing socio-economic conditions vocational education suddenly vocational education school in inside Tibet owing to large influx ended when the Chinese authorities Nagchu County. In another case of of Chinese ordered the closure of the school school closure, nun Ngawang alleging that the school was linked Choezom testified to TCHRD to subversive political activism. about the closure of Pad-kar School founded by a monk Lobsang Nyandrak from Pad-kar Monastery in Nagchu County, Nagchu Prefecture “” (“TAR”). Pad-kar school was established in January 2007 and had about two hundred students. Lobsang Nyandrak built the school by mortgaging his own personal property and estate as well as donations he raised from the local Tibetans. The curriculum in the school was very much similar to ones taught in Nagchu Vocational Education School. The education in Pad-kar school was given free of cost. The school also provided uniforms and other stationeries to the students. As it was in the case of many other students, nun Ngawang Choezom’s training in the Teachers and Graduates students during group photo session practice of traditional Tibetan Medicine suddenly ended in 2009. Moreover, the migrants into Tibet. A wide range Thereafter he came to India to seek Chinese authorities also closed a similar of subjects were taught in the school and pursue his modern education. school in Sog County, Nagchu Prefecture, varying from Tibetan, English and And he did so according to his wish. “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”) citing similar reasons stating the school Chinese languages, linguistic, Afterwards the Chinese authorities harboured and nurture Tibetan chemistry, physics, medicine, art converted the school into one of nationalistic sentiments and teach and mural paintings.” Chinese government run schools in “splittist” ideas and curriculum. The school was also open for the area. The former teachers and Regardless of the allegation anyone interested in learning staffs of the school were expelled. levelled by Chinese government, the traditional Tibetan arts and sciences The founder teacher Tenzin school teaches a true version of like medicine and thangka painting. Thabkhey was retained to work as a Tibetan history and culture which The students can study in the teacher but at a demoted position. once prevailed across entire length school for a period up to six years. In aftermath, the vocational and breadth of Tibet prior to the In a short period of time, the school education in the school was Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950. earned much praise and admiration removed and discontinued by from the local Tibetans in the area Chinese authorities. Today teachers about its curriculum and and staffs of the school just while educational standards. There had away their time and no serious

HUMAN RIGHTS update • OCTOBER 2009 3 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY

center. In his case, both domestic A Tibetan Returnee from India and international norms, sentenced to 15 years in prison particularly the proceedings of the Criminal Procedure Law Tenzin Choedak a Tibetan returnee treated on a far more sensitive (CPL) were violated and from India was sentenced to 15 note by the Chinese authorities. overlooked. There was no years of rigorous imprisonment He was born in Lhasa in 1986 and information whether Tenzin and a fine of 10,000 Yuan in later fled to exile to receive received fair hearing or was able September 2009 following his modern education. After receiving to hire his own council lawyer or participation in the last year’s an elementary education in India, legal representations. Lhasa spring uprising in Lhasa on 14 he returned to Tibet in 2003 and Intermediate People’s Court March 2008 according to reliable since then he had been working sentenced him to fifteen years of information received by the with Panam Integrated Rural rigorous imprisonment along Tibetan Centre for Human Rights Development Project (PIRDP) which with a fine of 10,000 Yuan. and Democracy (TCHRD). was initiated under an agreement Tenzin Chodrak is currently between the European Union and the serving his prison term in Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The Chushul Prison, Lhasa, “TAR”. Project is located in Panam County He is due to be released in 2024. of Prefecture in the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (‘TAR’). Eleven missing Tenzin Choedak’s case took a serious turn when the Chinese monks of Pangsa authorities learnt about his father identified Khedup who had previously TCHRD received reliable initiated number of political activities in 1987 uprising in information about the missing Lhasa such as setting up of eleven monks of Pangsa Monastery. The monks were disappeared in the middle of 2008. They were identified as: 1. Khenpo Thupten Lungrig A returnee Tenzin Choedak 2. Nyima Tenzin Tenzin Choedak, 23, participated 3. Lobsang Tendar in March 14 protests in Lhasa last 4. Pema year which then spread across 5. Lhakpa Tsering many parts of Tibet. He was arrested on an undefined date after 6. Tenpa Thinlay his images were caught on CCTV 7. Lhakpa footages, showing him protesting 8. Kangtsuk in the streets. Given the secretive 9. Thupten Nyima nature of Chinese court system, 10. Gyatso little is known about the nature of 11. Kalsang. indictment, however, according to However, the whereabouts of the Khedup, Tenzin’ s father the available information, it points monks still remains unknown to to arbitrary detention and underground secret organizations their relatives and to the outside persecution based on his family inside Tibet. Moreover, on March world. Pangsa Monastery housed members who were previously 14 2008 his own aunt Sonam was several hundreds monks, of which involved in many of political shot during the demonstration many of them staged a peaceful activities in the past. but later recovered from gun As a Tibetan returnee from wound. protest march against China’s India and being educated in one Sources told TCHRD that crackdown of peaceful Tibetan of the schools run by the Tibetan Tenzin Choedak was beaten, protesters in March 14 protest in government in exile, his case was tortured whilst in the detention Lhasa and other protests in Tibet.

4 HUMAN RIGHTS update • OCTOBER 2009 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY Three Tibetans China sentenced China arrests arrested in Sog three monks in Tibetans for County during the Kardze participating in 60th founding In April 2009, Chengdu People’s religious ritual anniversary of PRC Intermediate Court in Sichuan The Tibetan Centre for Human Province sentenced three Tibetan Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) Three Tibetans were arrested in monks to varying prison sentences learnt that Soetop, 50, a local Sog County during the 60th for taking part in protest Tibetan from Kargang Township, Founding Anniversary of the demonstrations in spring last year. , People’s Republic of China on 1 On 6 June 2008, the three monks, Prefecture, (‘TAR’) was arrested on October 2009. Tsewang Drakpa, Thupten Gyatso 6 June 2009 for participating in an The Tibetans were arrested by the and Gyatso Nyima staged a peaceful incense burning ritual during the local Chinese authorities for protest in Drango County, Kardze auspicious Tibetan month of Saka allegedly pasting pictures of the (‘TAP’) calling for more freedom Dawa, a month during which the Dalai Lama and writing subversive and human rights for the Tibetan historical Buddha Sakyamuni literatures in a popular online chat people. They also condemned attained enlightenment, taught his website called qq.com. All three China’s harsh crackdown of the first sermons and passed away in the arrested Tibetans were from Rada Tibetan protesters in 14 March 2009 same month. village Sog County,Nagchu in Lhasa. Prefecture. They were identified Within minutes of their protest, as Gyalseng, 25, Yeshi Namkha, the Chinese security forces rounded 25 and Nima Wangchuk, 24. up and arrested the protesting The Chinese authorities branded monks. On the way to the detention the three arrested Tibetans as center, the monks were severely “foreign separatist forces”. It was beaten up by Chinese security forces. only recently that the news of the Until the official announcement, the three arrested Tibetans surfaced. relatives of three monks had no idea Of late, the Chinese government about their whereabouts and has been maintaining strict detention. censorship and restriction on the Speculations were rife that content of the on-line chat rooms Tsewang Drakpa died in Chinese and forum sites. prison. However his relatives recently came across tangible evidence indicating that he is still alive in a

detention center in the outskirts of Soetop Chengdu, the provincial capital of Soetop’s detention surfaced after Sichuan Province contrary to the Chinese authorities released other rumour. Tibetans detained along with him. Tsewang Drakpa’s father and a It was from those released detainees relative were denied any visitation that Soetop’s relatives learnt about rights by Chinese security guards in his continued detention in Lhasa. a detention center in Chengdu city.

HUMAN RIGHTS update • OCTOBER 2009 5 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY

A Tibetan returnee China sentenced Three Tibetan monks

sentenced to 14 TCHRD learnt from relaible Kadrak Dorjee was later sentenced to sources that Kardze Intermediate 8 years imprisonment. years in prison People’s Court sentenced two In a case similar to that of Tenzin Choedak, Tibetan monks from Penri A Tibetan monk a Tibetan social worker Migmar Dhondup, Monastery, Kardze County, Kardze arrested after a 36, was sentenced to 14 years of “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture”, imprisonment in a Chinese administered (TAP) Sichuan Province for staging raid prison in Lhasa. Migmar Dhondup was peaceful protest against the local born in 1973 in Toe Dingri County, Chinese authorities. Sangpo, 30, a monk from Lhora Shigatse Prefecture “Tibet Autonomous Earlier in the past, Kardze region Monastery, Markham County, Region” (“TAR”). In 1982, at the age of used to be rife with protests and Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet nine he left Tibet to receive modern demonstrations. Last year when Autonomous Region (“TAR”) was education in India and was subsequently massive uprising and protests broke arrested by the Chinese Public admitted to a Tibetan school run by the out in Lhasa, the capital of (“TAR”), Security Bureau (PSB) officials on 8 Tibetan government in exile. He later Kardze region too was swept by August 2009 after surprise raid in his graduated from a Commerce and Business series of massive uprisings which was college in southern India. After the suppressed with severe crackdown completion of college education, he by the Chinese security forces. The returned to Tibet to serve his fellow Tibetan protests and demonstrations nomads and farmers in the field of health persisted in Kardze region although and education, a progam supported by they subsided in other parts of Tibet. western charitable societies based in Nepal. Many experts on Tibet attributed In the past many years he had been working last year’s uprising to the deep- in Lhoka and Lhasa region with Tibetan rooted resentment against the nomads and farmers. Chinese government’s unpopular rule in Tibet. In ensuing months tens and hundreds of Tibetans were arrested, many of whose fates still remained unknown to their relatives. Hence in 2009, Lobsang Palden Sangpo was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment and Lobsang Gelek residence. The Chinese police found sentenced to 4 years prison terms scroll painting of Dalai Lama and a allegedly for participating in the last half sack full of Video CD of Dalai year’s demonstration in Kardze on Lama’s speech in his room. Since then 15 March 2008. information on his whereabouts and They are currently said to be well being remain unknown to his serving prison term in Xendu Qaio mother and relatives. Migmar Dhondup in Dartsedo (Ch: Kanding) Kardze According to multiple sources, There were no reliable information on the “TAP”, Sichuan Province. Sangpo was arrested from his residence nature of his indictment and sentencing; Similarly, monks, Tashi Ngodup by the Chinese “PSB” during the however, his arrest by Chinese authorities and Kadrak Dorjee from Penri surprise evening raid when he may have been due to his background in Monastery were arrested from their returned home after performing a education in India as well as working residence by Chinese police. He was religious ritual in a Tibetan family. directly for the emancipation of Tibetan accused of sticking independent The Chinese police ordered him to people. After months of secret detention, posters on the County Bridge and take off his rob and took him away in on 27 October 2009, Lhasa People’s on the wall of a police station in the evening. Intermediate Court sentenced him to Kardze County. H returned to Tibet after completing fourteen years of rigorous imprisonment and Tashi Ngodup was released after the his pilgrimages in India. deprivation of Political rights for five years. few months in detention Centre but

6 HUMAN RIGHTS update • OCTOBER 2009 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY TCHRDTCHRD ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES Bulletin TCHRD Talk Series this month On 15 October 2009, the Tibetan Parlaiment in Exile (TPiE) invited TCHRD briefed Tibet- situation in Tibet with the TCHRD to participate in a dicussion ans in Manjnu-ka Tilla undergraduate students. forum organized by New Delhi based On 28 September 2009, the Tibetan Banglore RTYC invited Tibetan Parlaimentary Policy and Centre for Human Rights and TCHRD for a talk Research Centre (TPPRC) here at Snow Democracy (TCHRD) organized a talk Hermitage Resort Centre, Dharamsala. series in Tibetan School Hall, Majun- The topic of the discussion forum was Ka-Tilla, Delhi. on “ Tibetan Political Strategy”. Mr. Urgen Tenzin, Centre’s Executive TCHRD was represented by Mr. Jampa Director delivered a talk on “history of Monlam who presented his talk from democratization process in exile” and Mr. the perspective of human rights and Jampa Monlam, Assistant democracy as a way to explore the future Director gave a briefing talk on the status of Tibet. The talk was attended “current human rights situation in Tibet”. by the members of Tibetan Parlaiment The TCHRD shown with video in Exile. footages entitled “Uprising in Tibet Mr. Urgen Tenzin briefing Tibetan col- TCHRD presided over candle 2008” to the participants of the evening lege Students in Bangelore light vigil talk series. Later the Centre and On 25 October 2009, the Regional audience had a hearty discussion and Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) interaction on a wide range of topics invited TCHRD to address Tibetans and subjects related to human rights who participated in the candle light vigil and Tibetan political struggle in exile. which took place at the main Temple, TCHRD organized talk Mcleodganj, Dharamsala to remember and mourn the four Tibetans recently series in Bylakuppe, sentenced to death by the Chinese court south India in Lhasa, “TAR”, Tibet. The Centre’s Mr. Jampa Monlam, delivering a talk on representative Mr. Jampa Monlam On 1 October 2009, Mr. Urgen Tenzin Human Rights situation in Tibet to Ti- presented the entire account of Tibetans give an elaborated talk on how the betan Youths at Bangelore democractisation process evolved in On 7 October 2009, Bangalore executed in Tibet by the Chinese court. exile Tibetan communities in India. Regional Tibetan Young Congress TCHRD briefs Nobel On the same day, Mr. Jampa Monlam during its 40th founding Anniversary had a face to face interaction and of Tibetan Youth Congress invited Mr. Laureates discussion with several hundreds Jampa Monlam to TCV Youth Hostel Nobel laureates who Joddy Williams from USA, students at Bylakuppe TCV Hall, South to deliver a briefing talk on current Mairead Maguire fom Ireland, Shirin Ebadi from India. human rights situation in Tibet. Over Iran and members of Peace Jam who were on a four day visit to Dharamsala, the headquarter of Exile Several hundred students attended several hundred Tibetans attended the Tibetan government, to participate in Peace the talk and video screening. It was talk. JamYouth Conference with the Dalai Lama and to followed by question and answer series. Later in the afternoon of the same offer their support to the Tibetan cause. On 5 October 2009, again Mr. day, Mr. Jampa Monlam set aside a On the sideline of the event, on 27 October Urgen Tenzin had a similar talk Tibetan special rendezvous with those college 2008, Noble Laureates and the Peace Jam members college students at TCV Youth Hostel who missed the talk in the morning of were briefed by the Tibetan civil society groups. about the historical origin of the same day. Mr. Chukora Tsering Agloe on behalf of the Centre democractisation process in Exile. It TCHRD participated in a briefed the Noble laureates on current human rights situation inside Tibet at Lhakpa Tsering Hall, DIIR. was followede by Mr. Jampa Monlam’s discussion forum discussion current Human Rights Mr. Agloe fielded questions from the member of the audience.

HUMAN RIGHTS update • OCTOBER 2009 7 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY PRINTED MATTER • AIR MAIL Reg. no: HP/DMA/105/2008-2010

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The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is an independent centre which aims to promote and protect human rights and a democratic polity for Tibet. It attempts to educate Tibetans on human rights principles and to work Join hands with TCHRD with other human rights and democracy groups as part of a worldwide movement towards these ends. TCHRD is registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act 21 of 1860 in 1996. Human Rights begin with you. Your concern If you would like to subscribe to TCHRD's monthly Human Rights update or to and participation make a difference. Your order one of our publications, please send your name and postal details support could instill faith and hope in those who (including e-mail) to our office. have been stripped of their human dignity. Partial list of TCHRD publications: Join hands with TCHRD •The Next Generation:The State of Education in Tibet Today (1997)• Behind BECOME A MEMBER Bars: Prison Conditions in Tibet (1998) • Closing the Doors:Religious Repression in Tibet (1998)•Convention on the Rights of the Child (Tibetan Translation) (1998)•Democracy:An Education Booklet (1998)• Fearless Voices: Your benefits and responsibilities Accounts of Tibetan Former Political Prisoners (1998)•Human Rights:An aYou’ll receive free of cost our Human Rights update Education Booklet (1998)•A Guide to Human Rights (1999)•A guide to Democracy (1999)•Tales of Terror:Torture in Tibet (1999)•Briefing paper for aAll our publications will be sent for free upon request travellers to Tibet (1999) •Torture and Ill-Treatment in Tibet (2000)• Racial aYou’ll receive a membership card Discrimination in TIbet (2000)• Impoverishing Tibetans:China’s flawed economic aYou can join our campaigns policy (2000)• Destruction of Serthar Insitute : A Special Report (2002) aAnnual membership fee: Dispossessed: Land and Housing Rights in Tibet (2002) • Strike hard Campaign: China’s crackdown on political dissidence (2004) • State of education in Rs. 100/- for members within India Tibet: A human rights perspective (2004) • Kuxing: Torture in Tibet (2005) • US$ 20/- for student members outside India Death Penalty in China (2005) • International Bill of Human Rights (2005) • US$ 40/- for non-student members outside India TCHRD 1996-2006: A Decade of Human Rights Research • Railway and China’s Development Strategy in Tibet: A Tale of Two Economies • Prisoners of Tibet • Annual Report : Human Rights Situation in Tibet (1996 - 2008) •Uprising in Please e-mail us at [email protected] or write to us on Tibetan 2008 • Briefing paper for travellers to Tibet our postal address for further information.

8 HUMAN RIGHTS update • OCTOBER 2009