Professional background:
Ven Ngawang Phulchung is the senior monk from Drepung monastery near Lhasa. He has also been singled out as the leader of the Drepung printing group, which secretly produced literature critical of the Chinese occupation of Tibet in early 1988. The publications of the group included a Tibetan translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the first Tibetan political manifesto, "The Meaning of the Precious Democratic Constitution of Tibet," which called for a democratic system based on Buddhist tradition. The group also produced pro-independence leaflets that were designed to be stuck on walls in Lhasa. One describes how Tibetans were shot dead by police in pro-independence demonstrations, and is considered unusual in that it presents a sober account of the event rather than exaggerating the details for propaganda purposes.

Case history:
Following peaceful demonstrations by Drepung monks in 1987, the Drepung printing group was discovered and remained under constant surveillance by the Chinese authorities in 1988. For a time the group managed to continue publishing their work, but in September 1988 the Chinese began a re-education program at the monastery.

On November 30, 1989 Ngawang and fellow monks Jampel Changchup, Jampel Chunjor, Ngawang Gyaltsen, and Ngawang Oeser were all sentenced in a mass rally for their involvement in the Drepung printing group. Ngawang, now aged 43, was sentenced to 19 years in prison, as were Jampel Changchup and Jampel Chunjor; Ngawang Gyaltsen and Ngawang Oeser were sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment. It is thought that the long sentences given to those involved in the Drepung printing group were intended as a warning to Tibetan independence advocates. The monks were accused of setting up an "illegal separatist movement" or "counter-revolutionary clique" and of "collecting information and passing it on to the enemy, seriously undermining national security."

The official radio service reported that the group "deliberately planned to form counter-revolutionary organizations, put up posters, spread rumors and collect information. They frenziedly conducted criminal activities to split the motherland. Let the sentence on Ngawang Phulchung serve as a stern warning for separatists both at home and abroad that those who split the motherland will come to no good end."

Current status:
All those prosecuted for involvement in the Drepung printing group are held at Drapchi Prison, Tibet Autonomous Region Prison No.1, Lhasa, Tibet, People's Republic of China. There are reports that Ngawang was beaten until unconscious by Chinese army units after taking part in a protest against prisoner transfers on April 27, 1991. He was reportedly put in solitary confinement for six weeks and may have been badly injured. He is due for release on April 15, 2008.

Ven Ngawang Phulchung is also an Honorary Member of the Austrian, Canadian, English, and Sydney PEN Centers.

PEN is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Ven Ngawang Phulchung, Jampel Changchup, Jampel Chunjor, Ngawang Gyaltsen, and Ngawang Oeser on the grounds that their imprisonment in connection with the peaceful publishing activities of the Drepung printing group constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It further calls on the Chinese government to institute an investigation into prison conditions in Drapchi and into reports that prisoners have been tortured in detention.

Please write a polite letter on your personal or institutional letterhead requesting that Ven Ngawang Phulchung be released - or copy the one below - and mail to President Hu Jintao (postage 80¢) and to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Yang Jiechi (postage 37¢).

Cc:
H.E. Yang Jiechi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the United States
2300 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008