DHARAMSALA, January 09, 1996 (DIIR) -- The Human Rights Desk reported in the Human Rights Update of June 26, 1995 that Ms. Chungla had disappeared after being arrested at Dram, the border town between Nepal and Tibet.

Recently we received a full report recording Chungla's statement after her release from prison. The following is the English translation of Chungla's account of her arrest and imprisonment in Tibet.

"I am twenty seven years old and am a businesswoman. I was born in Pedung Village of Nyamring County in Shigatse. In 1984, I moved to Nepal with my family and settled there and since 1988, I have travelled several times between Nepal and Tibet doing small business.

On April 4, 1995, while crossing over to Tibet, I was arrested by Chinese police at the Dram bridge. On the night of April 4, 1995, I was detained in prison in Dram with one Chinese. Nobody questioned me that night.

On April 5, 1995, I was released and allowed to go to Dram but on my arrival in Dram, I was once again arrested from a guest house. I was imprisoned in a prison-like house for four days with two other woman from Shigatse, who had been arrested while trying to escape to India. I was arrested by Public Security Bureau (PSB) official Phuntsok and another officer. Later I was interrogated by Nyima Chung and two other young men.

During the interrogation sessions, the officers repeatedly asked me questions like: "why have you come to Tibet?" "who send you?" "what do you do for a living?" "are you educated?" etc. The officers claimed to know everything about me, but tried to threaten me saying that I must speak the truth because they could judge me by my expressions. In answer I told the officers that I had never received any education, and that I am poor and travelled between Nepal and Tibet doing small business. I told them that I was in no position to do anything for anyone when I could not look after myself even. In return the officers told me that if I told them the truth, my punishment would be reduced if not I would be seriously punished.

After spending four days in Dram prison, we, including the two other Tibetan women were taken to Nyalam prison and imprisoned there for five days. In Nyalam prison, there were twenty two other prisoners of whom sixteen were male and six female. On the sixth day, we were all taken to Lhatse prison and locked up for one day. Two male prisoners of Lhatse prison had written on the prison walls slogans like: "Tibet is independent", "A day will come when the Sun will shine". From Lhatse prison we were moved to Shigatse.

In Shigatse, the police questioned us about the slogans written on Lhatse prison walls. They wanted to know who wrote them. One of the interrogating officers was called Dorje. When none of us responded to these questions, the officers beat us with electric batons causing us to fall unconscious several times. We were slapped and punched. My turquoise earrings broke when I was slapped hard by the officials. Inspite of all the beatings and torture we refused to divulge any names. We were detained thus in Shigatse police custody for two days. On the third day, we were all taken to Nyari prison in Shigatse where I was detained without sentence for three months and twenty six days.

In Nyari prison, we were given breakfast at 9.00 AM. Beijing time. For breakfast, we were given one big serving spoon full of Tsampa (the Tibetan staple diet, made of ground roasted barley), and one mug full of boiled water. For lunch, we received one tingmo (Tibetan bread) each and a serving spoon full of boiled vegetables. For dinner we were given two tingmos each and some vegetable more or less like the one served for lunch. Many prisoners fell ill after eating the tsampa which was very stale. So finally after repeatedly complaining to the prison authorities, we were given tingmo for breakfast instead of tsampa.

There were over one hundred and forty political prisoners in Nyari prison while there were many other non-political prisoners as well.

The Chinese claimed that political prisoners are not put to hard labour but I found out that all prisoners who have received sentence are put to hard labour. Prisoners who had not yet been sentenced were exempt from this.

In Nyari prison, there were three nuns from Garu Nunnery. The Chinese were very suspicious of the nuns and questioned them a lot.

I was finally released sometime in the third week of August 1995 from Nyari prison, after spending more than four months in prison. The three nuns of Garu Nunnery, Phuntsok Gyaltsen, Phuntsok Kunsang and Phuntsok (second name not clear) are still in Nyari prison.

In the end, I would like to thank all the human rights organisations and individuals who took interest in my case and called for my release and supported me".

Chungla was arrested and detained for more than four months without her even knowing the reason for her detention. During the long months she spent in prison, she was not formally charged of any thing. Her case represents the case of many other Tibetans who are arbitrarily arrested and detained for long periods of time in prison by the Chinese.