On December 5th 1995, over 1200 people gathered at the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City to honor the 1995 recipients of the Reebok Human Rights Award. This year's recipients were Richard Nsanzabaganwa - Rwanda; Miguel Angel de los Santos Cruz - Mexico; Angela Brown - USA; and Ven. Phuntsok Nyidron, a tibetan nun.
Born in 1968 in Phenpo, west of Lhasa, Phuntsok Nyidron joined the Michungri Nunnery in 1986, at the age of nineteen. On October 14, 1989, she and thirteen other nuns peacefully demonstrated against the Chinese occupation of Tibet, chanting "Free Tibet", and "Long live the Dalai Lama". The demonstration took place just three days after Tibetans inside Tibet had learned that His Holiness the Dalai Lama had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As a consequence of the demonstration, they were beaten and arrested. Phuntsok Nyidron was labeled as the "ringleader" of "counter-revolutionary propaganda" aimed at "splitting the great motherland", and was given a sentence of nine years in prison. While in prison she has been subjected to electric shocks on the breasts, tongue and face, and during interrogation was suspended from the ceiling by her hands (which were handcuffed behind her) while beaten with an iron rod. Yet despite Chinese prison authorities attempts to force her into a confession, she refused.
Then on October 8, 1993, Phuntsok and 13 other nuns were caught singing and recording Tibetan pro-independence songs in front of Chinese prison officials in Drapchi prison. As a result, her sentence was arbitrarily extended another 8 years, totaling 17 years in prison. Phuntsok Nyidron is currently the longest serving (known) female political prisoner in Tibet.
On behalf of Reebok, Richard Gere introduced Phuntsok Nyidron's case with a video. This video not only chronicled her imprisonment, but also unveiled the pure brutality that Tibetans within Tibet must endure. At the end of the video, a recording of the actual songs Phuntsok had recorded was played. The intensity of the video and the spirit that rose from the recordings proved too much for Ms. Kalsang Jamyang, a member of the Office of Tibet who accepted the award on Phuntsok Nyidron's behalf. Kalsang, visibly in tears throughout the introduction, rose to accept the award in the midst of a standing ovation. Holding back the tears, she graciously accepted the award "..on behalf of Phuntsok Nyidron and the people of Tibet". And as she left the podium, most of the audience and on-stage participants were wiping away their tears as they gave her another standing ovation.
Later in the program, Mr. Martin O'Brien and previous Reebok Human Rights Award winner Mr. David Moya, announced a "Call To Action Campaign". The purpose of this writing campaign was for all the audience members to sign postcards protesting the imprisonment of Phuntsok Nyidron and other prisoners of conscience.
The two-hour ceremony also included speeches from musician Peter Gabriel; Paul Fireman, Chairman and CEO Reebok International Ltd.; musician Michael Stipe; and actress Susan Sarandon. Musical performers for the event included Richie Havens and Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers. The end of the ceremony was highlighted by a moving rendition of Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up", performed by Ziggy Marley.
After the ceremony, all awards recipients met backstage for a press conference. Rinchen Dharlo, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, spoke on behalf of Phuntsok Nyidron. He was accompanied by Richard Gere. That evening, the Tibetan community of New York/New Jersey, as well as support group members, held a candlelight vigil in honor of Phuntsok Nyidron. They then continued their vigil by walking to the Chinese Mission, where they stood in protest of the Chinese decision regarding the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama.
All recipients also received $25,000 to be given to a human rights organization designated by the recipient. At the advice of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Reebok adn the Office of Tibet plan to deposit Phuntsok Nyidron's award in a special account until her release.
