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

APRIL 2010 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY VOLUME 3 ISSUE 8 Press Statement on the 21st Birthday CONTENT of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima: the XIth -Press Statement on the 21st Birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima the XI Panchen Panchen Lama of Tibet Lama of Tibet (pg 1 )

- Biography of former political prisoner 25 April 2010 marks the 21st a good life as an ordinary citizen in Lhamo Kyab ( pg 3) birthday of the XIth Panchen Lama: Tibet and his siblings were studying

-Tibetan students staged peaceful protest Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, one of at a university or working in regular in Machu County (pg 4) Tibet’s most important religious jobs. But China has once again failed -Language teacher arrested in Machu, whereabouts unknown” (pg 5) leaders, who was abducted by the to substantiate its blunt statement on -China arrests monk after protest in Chinese authorities on 17 May 1995 Gedhun Choekyi Nyima with any Nyarong County (pg 6) - More than thirty Tibetan Primary students when he was just six years old. He credible evidence for millions of his detained, one expelled in Sertha County and his parents were not seen for the followers. The continued detention after protest (pg 6) - A lone protester calling for proper past 15 years and there has been no and disappearance of Gedhun allocation of earth-quak relief arrested (pg clear information on their exact Choekyi Nyima is not only the 7) whereabouts and well being. Over deprivation of his rights alone but the years the Panchen Lama’s plight also a denial of religious guidance for has come to symbolize the crisis facing and hurting religious sentiments of the survival of Tibet’s religious millions of followers. culture. On the other hand China over Despite innumerable requests made the years has strived to bolster the by the world bodies, concerned legitimacy and raise the profile of its governments, and NGOs over the handpicked Panchen Lama-Gyaltsen past over 15 years for his release, the Norbu- through various means. He Chinese government has refused to has long been earmarked as Beijing’s provide any verifiable information on choice to usurp the Dalai Lama as Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, nor have the public face of Tibetan Buddhism. they allowed independent observers For instance, China organized for the to visit the boy and his parents in first time a World Buddhist Forum order to confirm their whereabouts at Hangzhou in east China’s and well being. While in the latest Zhejiang Province from 13 to 16 revelation, Padma Choling, April 2006 to espouse its leadership Chairman of the “Tibet Autonomous of the Buddhist world by providing Region” (“TAR”) Regional international platform to Gyaltsen government on the sideline of the Norbu. The Dalai Lama was not annual session of the National invited to this international forum People’s Congress in March 2010 in which thousands of monks, told reporters, that the Panchen Lama experts and politicians from thirty- selected by the Dalai Lama was seven countries and regions gathered Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the XI Panchen Lama of Tibet “invalid” and added that he was living to participate in the discussion on TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY building a ‘harmonious world,’ Dalai Lama after the present one passes (CRC) in 2005 that China: “Allow because the Dalai Lama was seen as away. an independent expert to visit and “splitting the motherland and confirm the well-being of Gedhun sabotaging the unity of ethnic The political machinations of Choekyi Nyima while respecting his groups.” As such, his participation Chinese propaganda machinery should right to privacy, and that of his would have caused “disharmony”, not deceive the international parents.” Xinhua, the State’s mouthpiece community. No matter how hard reported. Beijing tries, Tibetans will revere the The Centre also demand that any boy chosen by the Dalai Lama as the restrictions currently imposed are And Gyaltsen Norbu has taken legitimate one. The Chinese lifted immediately and that Gedhun on an increasing political role in authorities’ actions in the Choekyi Nyima and his family are recent years. He has made reincarnation of the Panchen Lama allowed to return to Tashi Lhunpo appearance with Communist Party represent yet another attempt to Monastery-seat of the Panchen leaders praising Chinese rule over weaken the social, moral and religious Lamas, and receive religious Tibet and was recently elected as one fabric of Tibetan life to further its education and training deserving of of the 25 Vice-Presidents of the exploitation as a colonial possession. his religious post. Buddhist Association of China on 3 February 2010. China on 28 China’s abduction of the Panchen The Centre urges the UN Special February 2010 appointed him to the Lama and denial of his religious Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion Parliamentary advisory body, the identity violates basic principles or Belief and the UN Working National Committee of the Chinese enshrined in the general human rights Group on Enforced and Involuntary People’s Political Consultative instruments such the Universal Disappearances to intervene Conference (CPPCC) as one of the Declaration of Human Rights regularly with the Chinese authorities 13 new members. (UDHR), the International Covenant to ascertain the whereabouts of the on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) outstanding case of Gedhun In religious sphere China in order and the International Covenant on Choekyi Nyima and his family. to train ‘patriotic and devotional Economic, Social and Cultural Rights religious personnel’ and to dilute (ICESCR). BACKGROUND the influence of defiant monks in INFORMATION: Tibet, who have strong and The Tibetan Centre for Human unflinching faith in the Dalai Lama, Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is · attempted to create a new group of gravely concerned at the continued On 14 May 1995, His Holiness monk subservient to Beijing. enforced disappearance and detention the Dalai Lama announced that the Subsequently in July 2007, China of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his then six-years old Gedhun Choekyi passed a law on reincarnation- parents. The Centre call on the Nyima as the reincarnation of the Order No. 5 of China’s State government of the People’s Republic Xth Panchen Lama. Administration of Religious Affairs of China (PRC) to disclose their exact (SARA), Management Measures whereabouts and allow independent · Three days later, Gedhun Choekyi for the Reincarnation of “Living international bodies to visit Gedhun Nyima and his parents disappeared Buddha” in Tibetan Buddhism- Choekyi Nyima to verify his health and have never been seen again. which requires all reincarnate lamas and living conditions as recent blunt to be approved by the state. With statement made by Chinese this major tactical step China authorities on him living a good life · On 24 May 1995 the government asserted its right to manage and wasn’t enough to convince the millions of People’s Republic of China issued select all reincarnate lamas of of his followers. The Centre also a statement describing the Dalai Tibetan Buddhism in the future and would like to recall the Lama’s proclamation as “illegal and thereby sought to choose its own recommendation made by the UN invalid.” Committee on the Rights of the Child

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· China proclaims another child to Biography of former political prisoner be the real incarnation - an Lhamo Kyab unprecedented and bizarre act of an was interrogated and tortured for a few atheist state. months in an attempt to force him to Lhamo Kyab was born to Mr. Dhargay confess his activities and motives. and Mrs. Dolma Kyab in 1979 in · Shortly after this announcement Chunkama Towship, Machu County, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his Ganan Tibet Autonomous Region family disappeared from their native (TAP), Gansu Province. hometown without any information about their whereabouts and well- He was engaged in family nomadic being. chores from early in his childhood and he was a herdsman before coming to · Chadrel Rinpoche, a former abbot India. In order to receive education and have of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery seat of audience with the Dalai Lama, he fled Panchen Lama, and Chairman of the to India with a challenging journey for Search Committee for the more than a month with his wife in reincarnation of the XIth Panchen 2003. Lama and his assistant Champa Lhamo Kyab Chungla also disappeared from After long period in Detention Centre After the treacherous long journey, he Chengdu Airport in Sichuan with harsh treatment, he was sentenced was able to reach safely at Nepal Tibetan Province on 14 May 1995. to three years imprisonment term on Reception Centre and later arrived at charges of disseminating information Dharmasala Tibetan Reception Centre, to the outside world with deprivation · On 21 April 1997, the Shigatse home of exile government and the of fours years political rights by the Intermediate People’s court resident of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court on sentenced Chadrel Rinpoche to six He was send to Sherab Gasel Lobling 29 March 2007. He was then years of imprisonment. He was a Transit School for newly arrived transferred to Lhasa Chushul prison on charged with “plotting to split the Tibetan adults in Dharamasala after 10 April 2007. country” and “leaking state secrets”. having an audience with the Dalai Lama but he dropped from Transit School During his stay in Chushul prison, he after more than one a year. Later on, · He was accused of working for and met Dolma Kyab, a well known he worked as watch man at assisting the Dalai Lama in the search Tibetan writer, who is currently Norbulingka institute and his wife got for the XIth Panchen Lama. Though serving prison term in the same prison. job in a tailor shop. Chadrel Rinpoche’s six years’ prison He was soon put in a separate prison term expired on 16 May 2001, he cell. In 2006, he returned to Tibet and continues to be held under virtual He was released from Chushul prison during his short stay in Machu County house arrest in Shigatse which is an after completing three years in prison he shared information with local extended form of detention. on 12 May 2009. The authorities told Tibetans, unfortunately Chinese local him to go back to his native place. authorities suspected him and he wasn’t However, Lhamo under the pretext of able to stay any more due to fear of visiting the great monasteries in Lhasa arrest. sought further pilgrimage visit to Sakya. On 13 May 2006, Lhamo Kyab was He fled from Sakya and escaped to arrested by Public Security Bureau India. The is currently resides at (PSB) officials and taken to PSB Dharamsala in north India Detention Centre for interrogation. He

HUMAN RIGHTS update • APRIL 2010 3 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY Tibetan students staged peaceful protest in Machu County

Tibetan students in Machu protest by students of the school The students have vowed to County, Kanlho “Tibetan in mid March this year and this carry on with more protests until Autonomous Prefecture” (‘TAP’) had led to their latest protest. fulfillment of their demand. in Gansu Province have staged a The Tibetan nationality Middle

Kyabchen Dedrol,Headmaster of the Machu Tibetan Nation- Do Re, Assistant Head Master ality Middle School peaceful protest on 3 April 2010 school reportedly comprises Over the past few weeks, a series against the Chinese government about 1,500 students. of peaceful protests were carried sacking their school heads, out in Gansu Province according to information received Choekyong Tseten was known to particularly by students of the by the Tibetan Centre for Human have been secretly whisked away middle school and as of now Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) by Public Security Bureau (PSB) there is no information available from reliable sources. officials and there is no on the detention of any students information on his current or staff members of the school The students of Machu Tibetan whereabouts. Following this, the after the protest but it was said Nationality Middle School, in students approached the that school is completely Machu County, Kanlho “TAP”, concerned Chinese authorities in cordoned off by armed police Gansu Province, led by senior Machu County and submitted and students were confined to students staged a peaceful protest petitions seeking reinstatement school compound. Students in the afternoon of 3 April 2010. of the three sacked school heads. were also barred from contacting According to the source, the The students asserted in their or meeting with the outsiders. students were infuriated by petition that they would stage Chinese authorities’ firing of the further protest if their demands school’s headmaster, Kyabchen were not met by the authorities, Dedrol and two of his Tibetan and the latest protest could be a assistants; Do Re and Choekyong result of failure on the part of Tseten from their job last month authorities to heed the call by following a pro-independence students, according to the source.

4 HUMAN RIGHTS update • APRIL 2010 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY Language teacher arrested in Machu, that China is legally bound to effectively ensure the physical whereabouts unknown and psychological integrity of In another incident, the Chinese refusal to comply with the all persons deprived of liberty PSB official authorities in Machu China’s “Patriotic re-education” in accordance with County arrested a 40-year-old international human rights law. Tibetan language teacher, campaign in the monastery that The Centre is also seriously Topden, of Machu requires monks to denounce preoccupied about their their religious arbitrary arrest as it appears to be solely based on their peaceful political and religious beliefs and the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and calls upon the government of the PRC to order their immediate and unconditional release in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist, bring them promptly before an impartial, independent and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times, including immediate and unconditional access to a lawyer of their choice.

Topden, 40, a Tibetan Language Teacher Tibetan Nationality Primary leader, the Dalai Lama. Unable School on 28 March 2010 for to tolerate the religious unknown reason. There is no repression he escaped into India information on his current and continued his studies at whereabouts since his arrest. Tibetan school in Dharamsala until his return to Tibet in 2006 Topden was ordained monk and when he completed his studies. joined Nyulra Ngenthok Monastery after completing his TCHRD is gravely concerned primary schooling. In year 2000, about the safety of Mr. he escaped into exile in India to Choekyong Tseten and Mr. pursue his further studies after his Topden and recalls to the competent Chinese authorities

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China arrests monk after protest in county. The names of the monks cannot be confirmed at the moment. Nyarong County camera. There is no information on According to information provided Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) his place of detention. by the source, on 8 April 2010, the officials in Nyagrong County (Ch: Chinese security forces paraded two Xinlong xian), Kardze “Tibetan TCHRD is gravely concerned monks on a vehicle, who were arrested Autonomous Prefecture (‘TAP’) in about the safety of Abo Tashi and earlier for staging a protest, around Sichuan Province have arrested a recalls to the competent Chinese various places in Sertha County. Tibetan monk named Abo Tashi, a authorities that China is legally Sources told the Centre that the two 22-year-old of Guru Monastery, for bound to effectively ensure the were severely beaten up by the security his participation and taking physical and psychological integrity forces while being paraded. On photographs during a protest rally on person deprived of liberty in reaching Khar Primary School area, 8 April 2010, according to accordance with international students started protesting against the information received by the Tibetan human rights law. The Centre calls security forces brutality and Centre for Human Rights and upon the government of the PRC humiliation of monks and they Democracy (TCHRD). to order his immediate and started pelting stones on the security unconditional release as his action vehicles and shouted slogans. Glasses Abo Tashi was accompanied by Tsering constitute nothing more than a of the security forces’ vehicles were Gyatso, 19; Tsering Wangchuk, 22; peaceful exercise of the smashed and injuring few security of Guru Monastery and Rinzin fundamental human rights. forces in the melee. Later students Dorjee, a 24 year-old from Jamchon wrote and pasted posters calling for Monastery in Nyarong County. All Tibet’s independence around the four protesters were hailed from More than 30 school walls and on the teachers’ Serwoe Village, Nyarong County, desks. Kardze “TAP”. Tibetan Primary Students detained, Following the incident more than The four Tibetan monks staged their one expelled in thirty Tibetan students of Khar protest at the county main market Primary school were detained by the square carrying banned Tibetan Sertha County security forces. Although most of the national flag and chanted slogans and students were released after brief thrown handwritten pamphlets detention, around 10 students are still demanding “quick return of the Dalai being held. It was announced that the Lama to Tibet,” “independence for Sertha County in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) “Tibetan Autonomous remaining students won’t be released Tibet,” and “stop mining activities in until they pay monetary fine of 2000 Nyarong.” Following their protest, Prefecture” (‘TAP’) over the past couple of months witnessed at least Yuan each and sign surety letter by around 500 local Tibetans joined the their parents guaranteeing non protest march in support. According eight cases of protests by individuals and group against the Chinese participation by their children in such to source, sound of gunshot fires were activities. The juveniles are currently heard during the protest and it cannot government and reports of Tibetans having been detained also emerged held at Sertha county Public Security be confirmed whether it was fired in Bureau (PSB) Detention Centre. the air to disperse the protesters or from the area. In the latest case, more than thirty students of Khar Most of the detained were students onto the protesting Tibetans. As of in their early teen. now there is no information on Primary School in Sertha County were detained by the Chinese Tibetan getting hurt in the incident. Dhonyoe, a 16-year-old student of Abo Tashi was detained by the PSB security forces following minor stone throwing incident that took class VI who participated in the officials from the site while capturing protest was expelled from the school. the event of Tibetan protest in his place after security forces paraded monks in various places around the Dhonyoe hails from Thatsi Township, Sertha County. Following 6 HUMAN RIGHTS update • APRIL 2010 TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY the incident Khar Primary school of Tsuglakhang temple in Lhasa. to Tibet via Tibet-Nepal border of administration was fined 10,000 According to sources, at around 3:20 Dram and was arrested for carrying Chinese Yuan for students’ PM (Beijing standard time) during several books of speeches by the Dalai indiscipline. There is no information the peak hour for religious activities Lama and subsequently detained at on staff members expelled for their around the Tsuglakhang temple, Shigatse PSB Detention Centre for a failure to check the protest. Samdup Gyatso staged a lone protest month. He was later shifted to carrying banned Tibetan national flag Drapchi Prison where he spent next According to sources, eighteen in hand and had another stitched on six months. He went back to his vehicles of People’s Armed Police the back of his shirt and shouted hometown after his release from (PAP) were brought into Sertha slogans calling for the “quick return prison in October 2008. County as a measure to intimidate of the exiled Tibetan leader to Tibet,” the residents thereby preventing the “release Panchen Lama” and “proper This was the second known case of a escalation of the protest. allocation and delivery of earthquake Tibetan getting arrested in relief received from international connection with the recent The Tibetan Centre for Human donors to the much needed nomadic earthquake that devastated the Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) communities in Kyegudo.” He was Tibetan areas of Kyegudo (Ch: condemns in strongest terms over immediately arrested by PSB Yushu/Jiegu) in Qinghai Province the detention of juveniles and officials and whisked off in a police killing thousand of Tibetans and expulsion of the class VI student vehicle. There is no information on injuring tens of thousands. Earlier on from school. The Centre calls on the his current whereabouts. 23 April, Tagyal, a renowned Tibetan government of People’s Republic of writer in Xining was arrested for China for the immediate and signing an open letter of condolence unconditional release of around ten to the victims of the disaster that students who are still held at the criticized the Chinese government’s County PSB Detention Centre and handling of the earthquake relief calls for the readmission of Dhonyoe efforts. The open letter was written into school without any delay. by a group of prominent Tibetan intellectuals based in Xining, Qinghai A lone protester Province just three days after the calling for proper earthquake. Tagyal writes with the pen name “Shogdung” (morning conch) allocation of and worked for the Nationalities Publishing House in Xining. earthquake relief Samdup Gyatso arrested Samdup Gyatso was born in a TCHRD condemns in strongest An exile Tibetan returnee was arrested nomad family in Haiyan County, term over the arbitrary arrest of on 2 May 2010 for staging a solo Tsochang (Ch: Haibei) “Tibetan Samdup Gyatso. His action protest in front of Tsuglakhang in Autonomous Prefecture” (‘TAP’) in constitutes nothing more than a Lhasa, according to confirmed Qinghai Province. He was a former peaceful exercise of fundamental information received from reliable student of Sherab Gatsel Lobling, a human rights enshrined in the sources by the Tibetan Centre for Transit School for newly arrived Constitution of the People’s Republic Human Rights and Democracy adult Tibetan refugees in of China and other major (TCHRD). Dharamsala. Before that he was also international human rights covenants a monk of Jabdrung Gartok that PRC is a signatory. The Centre Samdup Gyatso, a 28-year-old was Monastery. Samdup came into exile believes the grievances expressed by arrested by around seven Public in November 2007 and studied for Samdup during the protest represent Security Bureau (PSB) officials a year at Sherab Gatsel Lobling views shared by a broad spectrum of during his brief solo protest in front School. In March 2008, he returned Tibetans in Tibet.

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

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