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Amnesty International China Campaign Information
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Tibetan Women - apprehended for their beliefs
Gross violations of human rights in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) have
intensified since a resurgence of demonstrations and other activities in
favour of Tibetan independence that began in September 1987. Since then
thousands of Tibetan nationalists have been arbitrarily detained for their
involvement in peaceful pro-independence activities.
The majority of current political prisoners in Tibet are Buddhist monks and
nuns detained solely for their peaceful expression of support for Tibetan
independence. Some are held without charge or trial, others are serving
long prison terms imposed after unfair trials. Many have been tortured.
Amnesty International takes no position on the independence of Tibet. Its
concerns rest with the authorities denial of free speech and association in
the region, and the persistent pattern of gross violations of other
fundamental human rights in connection with the suppression of the
nationalists' movement and freedom of belief and expression of the Tibetan
Buddhist religion.
Thousands of people have been jailed in the past decade in China because
they have formed small political groups or have spoken out for their
beliefs. The Chinese constitution guarantees in principle, freedom of
speech, assembly and association, but other legal provisions make exercising
these rights punishable by imprisonment or administrative detention.
Repression of religious activity has intensified since 1994, when new
restrictions were imposed on fundamental freedoms. In Tibet the authorities
introduced new measures aimed at limiting the scope of religious activities
and suppressing pro-independence activities.
ACTION :
The following women were all detained by the authorities in 1995 for their
pro-independence activities. There have been no reports about the use of
violence in their protest. Amnesty International believes that they are
possible prisoners of conscience.
It is not known whether these women are still in detention or if they have
been released. Neither is it known if any formal legal charges have been
brought against them or if they have been granted the right to a trial.
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
TRA-SIL - apprehended on 12 August 1995 in connection with the controversy
over the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama (LHASA)
KHETSUL - detained in February 1995 and allegedly beaten during her initial
detention. (PHENPO LHUNDRUP)
NAMDROL WANGMO, LOBSANG TSOMO, CHOEKYI, CHOEYANG KUNSANG, DAMCHOE DROLMA,
TENZIN DROLMA were all nuns at the Shar Bumpa Nunnery in Phenpo Lhundrup in
Tibet. They were all apprehended on 28 February 1995. Their whereabouts
are not known.
TSERING CHOEKYI ( 20 years old) NAMGYAL (19 years old),CHE-CHE (23 years),
CHIME DROLKER (21 years), LODROE TENZIN (29 years old), CHOEKYI (19 years),
CHOGDRUP DROLMA (24 years old), DEKYI (29 years old), TENZIN CHOEDRON (33
years),YANGDROL (25 years),YANG-GA ( 23 years), JAMPA (23 years), CHAMDRON (
24 years), RIGZIN ( 20 years), SHERAB CHOEPHEL (21 years), and TSERING
CHOEKYI (20 years) were all nuns at the Gyadrag Nunnery in Penpo Lhundrup in
Tibet. They were all apprehended on 15 February 1995. Their current
whereabouts are unknown.
Letters should be sent to the Tibetan authorities listed here and to the
central authorities given at the end of these case sheets. Letters should;
* Ask for clarification of their status and whereabouts.
* Express your concern that these women have been detained for what seems to
be the peaceful expression of their right to freedom of expression and
association.
* Express your concern at the repression and harrassment of Tibetan nuns,
some of whom are very young.
* Expressing concern that the fate of these women and many other nuns and
monks in Tibet apprehended in connection with peaceful demonstrations have
not been made public.
President of the Xizang Autonomous Regional People's Government
Gyaltsen Norbu Zhuxi
Xizang Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengfu
1 Kang'angdonglu
Lasashi 850000
Xizang Zizhiqu
People's Republic of China
Telexes: 68014 FAOLT CN or 68007 PGVMT CN - Salutation: Dear President
Telegram: President of the Regional People's Government, Lhasa, Xizang
Autonomous Region, China
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