Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday, August 14, 1996

Monks of Ganden Monastery Feared Killed

Fresh reports from Tibet state that after the May 6, demonstration at Ganden Monastery and the ensuing police firing on the monks, upto 70 monks of the monastery were arrested. Also another 7 monks have reportedly disappeared after the protest. It is now feared that these 7 monks might have been secretly killed by Chinese security officials.

Monks Refuse to Join Re-education Classes:

According to reliable sources, the Chinese authorities have established many reform through re-education classes in the various monasteries in Lhasa. Each class composed of a group of 7 monks are educated by a Chinese appointed lay teacher. The monks are made to denounce the Dalai Lama and the "splittist group". These re- education classes have been initiated in Sera Monastery. About 50 monks coming from places like Zapa, Golog and Rakyab left Sera Monastery on June 12, 1996. They openly displayed their preference in leaving the monastery and returning home rather than staying in the monastery and being forced to denounce and oppose His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Wall Posters Rejecting Gyaltsen Norbu Appear in Tsongon:

Fresh reports from Tibet, say that on March 10, 1996, many wall posters appeared in region of Tsongon in Amdo. The wall posters stated the people's refusal to accept Gyaltsen Norbu (the Chinese appointed rival Panchen Lama) as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. Pamphlets circulating among the people also carried the same message. On hearing this, the Chinese authorities ordered the arrest of any persons involved in the incident. The people were warned that any one found guilty of rejecting China's chosen reincarnation would be arrested, detained and may even be sentenced to death.

China Promotes Books to Make False Claims:

According to sources in Tibet, the Chinese authorities recently published a new book in 2 volumes both in Tibetan and Chinese language stating that only the government of China has the decision power in the selection process of the reincarnations of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.

Tibetan Judge Beaten Up by Public Security Bureau Men.

According to reliable sources in Tibet, Thupten, senior judge of the Chamdo People's Intermediate Court was severely beaten by four Public Security Officials in Lhasa.

Thupten was in Lhasa to attend a conference. One day as he was walking around Lhasa in plain clothes, he came across four Public Security officials beating a Tibetan man. The Tibetan, named Rabten, a visitor in Lhasa from Jamda Dzong (district), Chamdo, had been arrested for trying to leave a Chinese restaurant without paying his bills.

On seeing Rabten being beaten by the PSB officials, Thubten intervened saying that they should not be beating up a man before investigating into the matter. Hearing this, not knowing that Thubten was a Judge, the PSB officials abused Thubten and called him names. They then beat up Thubten and in the event broke his hands.

Thubten had to be hospitalised for 3 months. The four PSB officers have since been detained.

The above incident lends proof to reports of police brutality and torture in Tibet. Public Security Bureau officials and the People's Armed Police officials in Tibet are known for their brutality. Former political prisoners who have witnessed these atrocities and who have themselves been victims of police brutality have narrated horrifying accounts of torture. Torture is used as a means of interrogation and more often than not, Tibetans are forced to confess for fear of further torture. Torture within the four walls of Tibet's prisons are hidden from the outside world until a prisoner's death brings reality to light.

Monk Dies in Prison:

According to Tibet Information Network (T.I.N), Kalsang Thutop a 49 year old monk of Drepung Monastery died in Drapchi Prison on July 5, 1996 as a result of torture. Kalsang Thutop was serving a 18 year sentence. While in custody he reportedly suffered from malnutrition.

In 1988, he translated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into Tibetan and produced a clandestine booklet, ``The Precious Democratic Constitution of Tibet'' in which he wrote: ``An organisation built on the role of force and coercion can never be justified.''

Kalsang Thutop had been detained for three months for leading twenty one monks whose demonstration in Lhasa triggered off a chain of protests in 1989. He was arrested in April 1989 at the Tibetan border as he tried to escape to Nepal. In November 1989, he and 9 other monks were sentenced at a public rally. Kalsang Thutop was given a sentence of 18 years for being the "main culprit".

Kalsang Thutop's death is the second recorded case of death in custody this year. The first case, also from Drapchi Prison was that of a 19-year old monk Sangye Tenphel from Khangmar Monastery in Dhamshung, 162 kilometres north-west of Lhasa. Sangye Tenphel whose lay name was Gonpo Dorje died on May 6, 1996 as a result of torture and ill-treatment in prison.

Sangye Tenphel along with 4 other monks of Khangmar Monastery had been arrested on April 15, 1995 for participating in a demonstration around the Bharkor in Lhasa.

Amnesty International has urged the Chinese authorities to investigate into the death of Kalsang Thutop.

Tibetan Setenced to Five Years Imprisonment:

According to reliable sources, Tsewang, a 61 year old Tibetan Accountant has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. He was accused of "stealing state secrets and communicating with western splittist forces".

Tsewang, an Accountant at the `Shol Thongye Ngamle' a cooperative production unit was first arrested in 1959. He was a soldier in the Tibetan army at the time. Then in 1985 after returning from a trip to India he was once again arrested. This time he was accused of being a "spy for the Tibetan Government-in-Exile". He was arrested for the third time at 6.45 pm on June 16, 1995 from his home for "political reasons". It was reported then that he was being detained in Seitru detention centre.

Tsewang had visited India twice, once in 1985 and once in 1992.

Our sources report that Tsewang is a heart patient and is suffering from high blood pressure. He is presently reported to be detained in Drapchi Prison near Lhasa.

Chief of Weather Department Demoted to Construction Labourer:

According to our sources in Tibet, Dhondup Dorje, the forty nine- year old former Chief of the Nagchu Weather Department is now forced to work as a construction labourer. Dhondup Dorje who spent almost three years in prison was demoted from his post after his release.

After his graduation from Beijing Nationalities University where he studied Tibetan, Dhondup Dorje was appointed the Section Head of the Lhasa Weather Department in 1989. In 1991, he was promoted to the Chief of the Weather Department in Nagchu Dzong (district). He was also a party member of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). While in Nagchu, Dhondup Dorje actively campaigned for the rights of the common people. He demanded basic human rights for the Tibetan people.

As a result of his outspoken demands for human rights for the Tibetan people, on May 14, 1992 officials of the Lhasa Intelligence Bureau arrested him in Nagchu. His home in Lhasa was raided and most of his personal belongings including some property documents were destroyed. After spending 2 years and 8 months in Seitru/Gutsa Prison, he was released in January 1995. On May 18, 1995 Dhondup Dorje went back to the Nagchu Weather Department to claim his former job. However, he was informed that he would only be employed as temporary staff. He was stripped of his rank and authority. His new job was watering the gardens and checking on the trees and other plantations. He was paid 300 yuan per month with the promise that he would be paid 500 yuan if he worked hard and behaved well. Before his arrest and detention, he was receiving 1700 yuan per month.

In the beginning of 1996, the Weather Department in Nagchu was ordered by the Chinese authorities to remove Dhondup Dorje from his job. They said "He will be given a job by the Dalai Lama and the United Nations because he is very devoted to the Dalai Lama".

Presently Dhondup Dorje is working as a construction labourer, earning 200 yuan per month. He has been stripped of his party membership and all other rights and benefits. Dhondup Dorje's wife is reportedly in poor health.

Dhondup Dorje's younger daughter, Pendon also known as Penpa Dolma was denied admission into university because she was accused of coming from a family of "political activists".

Dhondup Dorje's elder daughter Tsering Dekyi who lives in Dharamsala, India, when asked whether she knew about her father's condition, acknowledged that she had received information about her father. Tsering Dekyi expressed concern for her father. She however, added "Any way in Tibet, all Tibetans are in the same situation. They all suffer alike under the Chinese government. I would like to appeal to the international community and to all human rights organizations to support the Tibetan cause and put pressure on China to stop violating the human rights of Tibetans inside Tibet".

British Labour Government To call For EU-Wide Sanctions on Human Rights

According to news reports, the new British Labour Government is expected to call for EU-wide sanctions against countries where human rights are denied.

George Foulkes, Opposition spokesman on Overseas Development, said this would be one of the top priorities of the new administration. "Then it will be seen whether some kind of boycott involving EU member states could be imposed on countries where human rights are either at a premium or non-existent."

Mr Foulkes said Burma and Indonesia would probably be on the agenda. "The forthcoming visit of the Dalai Lama will also serve to highlight the human rights situation in Tibet." Mr. Foulkes said he would be visiting Beijing in September and would raise concerns about what is happening in Tibet.

Human Rights Desk

Department of Information &

International Relations

Central Tibetan Administration

Dharamsala - 176215

Distt. Kangra (H.P.)

India