Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday, May 1, 1996

April 30, 1996

Human Rights Desk (DIIR)

The Human rights Desk reported in November 1995 that Rinzin

Wangyal was arrested in August 1995 - suspected of being involved

in a political movement aimed at disrupting the September 1,

1995, anniversary celebrations of the founding of the so-called

Tibet Autonomous Region.

According to recent information received, the Public Security

Bureau(PSB), Lhasa, has failed to respond to three letters of

appeal sent by Rinzin Wangyal's relatives, requesting the PSB

permission to allow a meeting between Rinzin Wangyal and his

wife, Sonam, who is currently in a critical state in Lhasa

People's Hospital.

In the first week of April 1996, Rinzin Wangyal's wife, Sonam, a

daughter of the Yabshi Phunkhang family (family of His Holiness

the 13th Dalai Lama) fell very ill and was admitted to the Lhasa

People's Hospital, where she was later operated on. Despite the

operation, her condition deteriorated and she had to be taken to

Chengdu for further treatment. Seeing Sonam's condition their

relatives appealed to the Public Security Bureau to allow the

couple to meet. However, there was no response from the PSB.

Rinzin Wangyal, Tibetan prisoner of conscience currently being

held in a prison in Tibet was arrested in August of 1995. Prior

to this, Rinzin Wangyal was arrested in 1966-67 for allegedly

organising an underground movement and was imprisoned in Drapchi

Prison till 1982-83 when he was finally released.

Rinzin Wangyal's younger brother Tsedor, was one of the nine

youths who was accused of forming an underground movement and was

executed in 1970. Rinzin Wangyal's brother-in-law, Karma Gelek

was arrested in 1994 and still remains in prison.

Concerned relatives of the couple are believed to have expressed

to the authorities that they were only seeking a meeting between

Rinzin Wangyal and his dying wife - something that is their basic

human right and nothing illegal.

As Rinzin Wangyal's wife lies ailing on her death bed, Rinzin

Wangyal remains helpless behind bars.