Published by: World Tibet Network News, 96/03/07 20:00 GMT

Source: Human Rights Desk, Information Office, Dharamsala

In an `Urgent Appeal' released on February 7, 1996, the Human Rights Desk reported the arrest of Ngawang Choephel, a 30-year old Tibetan music teacher while he was in Tibet.

Ngawang Choephel studied Tibetan traditional music and dance at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in Dharamsala. After graduating from the Institute, Ngawang taught Tibetan music and dance to Tibetan students at the Central School for Tibetans in Mundgod and Bylakuppe. In 1992, as a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship from the Department of Education, Ngawang Choephel studied music and dance at Middlebury College, Vermont in the United States.

On February 29, 1996, in an in-depth interview with the Human Rights Desk, Dorji Rinchen, an eye witness to the arrest of Ngawang Choephel, testified that Ngawang Choephel was brought to Nyari Prison, Shigatse on September 16, 1995 and is being detained there.

Please see March 4th WTN News for the complete text of Dorji

Rinchen's testimony.