Published by World Tibet Network News - Monday - November 27, 1995

PHUNTSOK NYIDRON WINS 1995 REEBOK HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD

On October 26, 1995, the Reebok Human Rights Committee named Ven.Phuntsok Nyidron as a recipient of this year's Reebok Human Rights Award. Along with Phuntsok Nyidron three other activists from the United States, Rwanda and Mexico will receive this prestigious award at a ceremony on December 5, 1995 at Apollo Theatre in New York City.

When announcing the successful candidates for the award, Jimmy Carter former U.S. President publicly stated that "I proudly join Reebok in celebrating the vision and tenacity of the recipients of this year's awards. These young leaders, who are willing to take great personal risks to create new possibilities of human justice, hold the key to a better future for people around the world".

Phuntsok Nyidron is a twenty seven years old Tibetan nun from Michungri Nunnery near Lhasa. On October 14, 1989, Phuntsok Nyidron led a peaceful demonstration in the Barkhor area in the old town of Lhasa, calling for an end to Chinese occupation of Tibet. The demonstration took place three days after Tibetans inside Tibet heard the news that His Holiness the Dalai Lama had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As a consequence of the demonstration, 14 nuns were arrested. Phuntsok Nyidron was taken to court and given a sentence of nine years. According to a testimony received by the Human Rights Desk, she was kicked and beaten during the arrest and later given electric shocks on the hands, shoulders, breasts, tongue and face.

On October 8, 1993 Phuntsok Nyidron sang a song in Drapchi prison with thirteen other nuns, dedicated to the independence of Tibet and applauding His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It was because of this song that her sentence was extended to eight more years arbitrarily, without a proper trial.

She is now serving a total of seventeen years in Drapchi prison. She is now the longest serving known, woman political prisoner in Tibet.

The Human Rights Desk nominated Phuntsok Nyidron for the Reebok Human Rights Award in March this year. Phuntsok was nominated for the award taking into account the "international year of women" and also because her case is a good representation of the in- justice that many Tibetans have to face as political activists inside Tibet. Today, these Tibetan human rights activists, including Phuntsok Nyidron continue to non-violently confront the Chinese occupiers despite the known consequences of arbitrary sentencing and punishment.

SIX MORE ARRESTED IN TIBET THIS YEAR

The Human Rights Desk recently published an Update (24 October 1995) detailing the particulars of seven Tibetans arrested in Tibet this year, for political activities. Six more Tibetans have been arrested in Tibet, including two monks from Amdo, since the publication of our last Update (24 October, 1995) in which we have published the particulars of seven Tibetans arrested earlier this year for political activities. The details of the present arrests along with particulars of four Tibetans arrested have been highlighted below.

1. RINZIN WANGYAL (ALIAS RINWANG)

Age: Approximately 48 years old

Residence: Lhasa

Occupation: After 1959, Rinzin Wangyal Worked as a construction worker in the "Ngachen Lokhang" Electricity Unit. As Rinzin Wangyal was educated in both Tibetan and Chinese, he was later offered a job at the Geographical Department. However, after the Chinese leader, Liu Shao Qi, lost political power there was a shift in the Chinese Government's policy in Tibet. As a result of this, some Tibetans who were accused of holding "wrong political views" were demoted to labourers at a Cement factory `Shuini Chang'. Rinzin Wangyal was amongst these youths who were demoted from their work. Between 1982-1983, Rinzin Wangyal worked at the `Jian Zhu Qidui' a construction unit in Lhasa.

Family Details: Rinzin's mother's name is Ogyen Choedon, Rinzin's father, Lobsang Tsewang, was a "Khenjung" (a Tibetan Government official of high rank) before the Chinese invasion of Tibet.Rinzin Wangyal's wife, Sonam, is a daughter of the Yabshi Phunkhang family in Lhasa, family of the 13th Dalai Lama. Sonam's elder sister, Tse-la's husband, Karma Gelek, was arrested in 1994 and still remains in prison. Rinzin Wangyal's younger brother Tsedor was one of the nine youths who were accused of forming an underground movement and was executed in 1970. Between 1987-188, he visited India to meet his relatives in India. His son, Tenzin Nyima is presently studying in the Tibetan Children's Village School, Dharamsala.

Arrest and Imprisonment: While working as a labourer in the cement factory, Rinzin Wangyal was arrested between 1966-1967 for allegedly organising an underground movement and was imprisoned in Drapchi prison. While in Drapchi prison, he was regularly tortured and interrogated by the prison authorities. Rinzin Wangyal was released from Drapchi prison between 1982-1983.

In August 1995, he was once again arrested by the Public Security Bureau.

The reason for his arrest is not known.

2. AMA PENCHOE

Age: 66 years old

Residence: Lhasa`Tengyeling'

Occupation: 66-year old Ama Penchoe is a housewife and a very devout Buddhist. She often went to the Chubsang Nunnery and went on retreat for two months at a stretch. Ama Penchoe also contributed generously towards building a retreat center at the Chubsang Nunnery.

Family Details: Ama Penchoe's husband's name is Lodam. In January 1982, Ama Penchoe visited India on a pilgrimage. Her grandchild is presently studying at the Tibetan Children's Village School, Dharamsala.

Arrest and Imprisonment: Ama Penchoe was reported to have been arrested between June-August 1995. Her whereabouts are unknown.

3. TSEWANG LA

Age: 61 years old

Residence: `Shol' Lhasa.

Occupation: Tsewang la worked as an Accountant at the `Shol' Thongye Ngamle' a cooperative production unit.

Family Details: Tsewang la visited India twice, once in 1985 and once in 1992.

Arrest and Imprisonment: On June 16, 1995 at 6.45 pm, Tsewang la was arrested and taken from his home for "political reasons". According to our source, Tsewang is under detention at the Seitru detention center.

4. JANGCHUB GYALTSEN

Age: 31 years old

Residence: Phenpo, near Lhasa.

Occupation: Jangchub Gyaltsen joined the Sera Monastery in 1983 and since 1987 has worked as a tailor in the monastery.

Arrest and Imprisonment: Some time around April-May 1995, Jangchub Gyaltsen was arrested and taken from his monastery quarters at night. It is not known to which prison he was taken to.

TWO MONKS OF RONGBO MONASTERY, AMDO ARRESTED

21-year old Lungtok and 22-year old Lobsang Tenzin both monks of the Rongbo Monastery in the region of Rikong, Amdo were reported to have been arrested in July 1995.

The two monks were accused of distributing pamphlets that called for the independence of Tibet and the reunion of Tibetans all over the world . These pamphlets also acclaimed His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Chinese police officials raided the monastery and publicly arrested the two monks.

According to a reliable source from Tibet, the whereabouts of the two monks are not known.

HUMAN RIGHTS DESK

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION

AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

CTA, DHARAMSALA