1. Name: Geshe SONAM Phuntsog
Age: 52
Profession: Leading
Buddhist monk,
scholar and Tibetan language and literature teacher.
Date of arrest: 24 October 1999
Sentence: Five years' imprisonment
Expires:
23 October 2004
Details of arrest: Reportedly detained on suspicion of
having "clandestine contacts" with the Tibetan government-in-exile.
His arrest appears to be linked to the authorities' concern over his influence in
the region and his apparent loyalty to the Dalai Lama. Thought to have
been held incommunicado for one year and four months until his sentence was pronounced.
Unofficial reports that he was released in early 2000 now appear to be false.
Details of trial: Reportedly sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment
in March 2001 by the Kandze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture People's Court.
Believed to have been accused of "inciting splittist activities among the masses",
"travelling to India on an illegal document [to seek] an audience with the Dalai Lama",
and "illegally" conducting religious ceremonies.
Place of detention: Now thought to be held in Chuandung Prison
No.3, Tsangtung Village, Dartsedo County, Kandze, Sichuan Province,
although reports of his whereabouts have varied.
Treatment in detention: Said to be the only Tibetan prisoner
in Tsangtung prison, and to be denied family visits.
Feared to be ill-treated in detention.
Health concerns:
Reported to be in very poor health and to be denied adequate medical care.
Other information: Has published two books on Tibetan history.
A popular local figure, he was based in Kandze Dhargyeling monastery, Sichuan province,
and was regarded by the Chinese authorities as a threat to the stability of the nation.
His arrest in October 1999 sparked off major demonstrations in Kandze.
(Photograph courtesy of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy TCHRD)
Drepung Monastery (Photograph courtesy of PEN Canada)
2. Name: JAMPEL Changchup (Lay name: Yugyal) (photo not available)
Age: 41
Profession: Monk from Drepung Gonpa monastery.
Date of Arrest: 13 September 1989.
Sentence: 19 years in prison plus five years deprivation of
political rights
Expires: 7 April 2008
Details of Arrest: He is thought to have been detained
unofficially on 8 April 1989, although his official date of arrest is given as 13 September
1989.
Details of Trial: Sentenced on 30 January 1990
for being 'a main culprit' in 'printing leaflets and forming counter-revolutionary
organizations' and for 'spying for the enemy'.
Professional Details:
Member of Drepung printing group.
Place of Detention:
Drapchi prison, Lhasa.
Health Concerns:
He is reported to be suffering from severe kidney problems and deteriorating eye-sight.
3. Name: JAMPEL Chunjor (No photograph available)
Profession: Buddhist monk from Drepung monastery
in Lhasa
Date of Arrest: 1989
Sentence: 19 years in prison
Expires: 2008
Details of Arrest: Accused of taking part in a
'counter-revolutionary clique' and spying. Said to have spread literature on Tibetan
independence and tried to publish information on killings of civilians by police in
Lhasa in March 1989.
Details of Trial: Sentenced in mass
rally on 30 November 1989.
Place of Detention: Drapchi
prison, Lhasa.
Previous Political Imprisonment/Problems:
Had been arrested on 27 September 1987 for taking part in pro-independence demonstration.
Released in January 1988 after signing 'confessions' for committing 'political crimes'
and acknowledging Chinese sovereignty over Tibet.
4. Name: NGAWANG Gyaltsen (Lay name: Ngoegyan)(No photograph available)
Age: 43
Profession: Monk from Drepung Gonpa monastery.
Date of Arrest: 16 April 1989
Sentence:
17 years in prison plus five years' deprivation of political rights.
Expires: 15 April 2006
Details of Arrest:
Reported to have been arrested while attempting to flee the country.
Details of Trial: Sentenced in November 1989 as 'accessory of
fender' for 'actively participating in criminal activities, engaging in
espionage, and illegally crossing the national border' in connection with Drepung
printing case (see Phulchung below). Also reported that sentence is in connection with '
his trying to get information on violence in Lhasa out of the country.
Place of Detention: Drapchi Prison, Lhasa.
Previous Political Imprisonment/Problems:
Had been arrested on 27 September 1987 for taking part in pro-independence demonstration.
Released in January 1988 after signing 'confessions' for committing 'political crimes'
and acknowledging Chinese sovereignty over Tibet.
5. Name: NGAWANG Oeser
(also spelt Ngawang Woeser; lay name: Jamyang)
Age: 43
Profession: Originally a farmer from Dranang county in
Lhoka region. Became a monk at Drepung Gonpa monastery in 1981.
Date of Arrest: 16 April 1989.
Sentence: 17 years
in prison plus five years' deprivation of political rights
Expires: 15 April 2006
Details of Trial:
Sentenced on 30 November 1989 for being a 'main culprit' in forming a
'counter-revolutionary clique' and printing 'reactionary' documents
which 'venomously slandered the people's democratic dictatorship'.
Was not provided with opportunity to defend himself.
Professional Details: Member of Drepung printing group.
Place of Detention: Drapchi Prison, Lhasa.
Treatment in Prison: Has been forced to undergo
"reform-through-labour" and "re-education" and reports indicate that his health has
gradually deteriorated over the years.
Previous Detention:
Previously held after being on of 21 initiators of a Lhasa demonstration in 1987.
He was interrogated, then released on 21 January 1988 but told he could not rejoin his
monastery. However, he continued with his political and monastic activities.
(Photograph courtesy of TCHRD)
6. Name: Ven NGAWANG Phulchung
Age: 45
Profession: senior monk from Drepung monastery near Lhasa.
Date of Arrest: 16 April 1989
Sentence: 19 years in prison plus nine years' deprivation of
political rights
Expires: 15 April 2008
Details of Trial: Sentenced at a mass rally in November 1989 for
producing political leaflets which 'venemously slandered the people's democratic dictatorship'
and for 'spying for the enemy'.
Place of Detention:
Drapchi prison, Lhasa.
Previous Political Imprisonment/Problems:
Publications of Drepung printing group included a Tibetan translation of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a Tibetan political manifesto,
'The Meaning of the Precious Democratic Constitution of Tibet', calling for constitutional
democracy. Singled out as the leader of a group of monks who were secretly
producing literature critical of the Chinese govt in early 1988.
Accused of setting up 'illegal separatist movement' or 'counter-revolutionary clique' and
of 'collecting information and passing it on to the enemy, seriously undermining national
security'.
(Photograph courtesy of TCHRD)
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SAMPLE APPEAL |
[Date]
His Excellency Hu Jintao
State President
State Council
Beijing
People's Republic of China
Your Excellency,
I am writing to express my serious and urgent concern about the number of
writers serving very long prison sentences in China for the peaceful practice of their right to freedom of expression.
I am particularly concerned about the ongoing detention of Jampel Changchup, Jampel Chunjor, Ngawang Gyaltsen, Ngawang Oeser, Ven Ngawang Phulchung, and Geshe Sonam Phuntsog
and am alarmed by reports of their mistreatment in prison.
I respectfully seek assurances that the Chinese authorities will provide adequate medical
care, permit family visits and take all other necessary measures to ensure the
general humanitarian treatment of the detainees. I would like to remind the
Chinese government of its commitment to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory.
I therefore respectfully request that you intervene on behalf of the six
detained Tibetan writers above
and all other writers detained solely for the exercise of their right to freedom of expression, and
facilitate their immediate and unconditional release.
Sincerely,
Your name and signature
Please Send a Copy of Your Appeal to:
Cc: H.E. Yang Jiechi
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the People's Republic of China to the U.S.
2300 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: (202) 588-0032
E-mail: chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn
LINKS:
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