World Tibet Network News Thursday, June 4, 1998

Dharamsala, June 4 - (TCHRD) Yeshi Samten, a 22-year-old former monk of Gaden Monastery, died a week after his release from Trisam Prison on May 12, 1998. Yeshi Samten, also known as Tenzin Yeshi, suffered from severe torture during two years of imprisonment. At the time of cremation, the person performing the funeral rites discovered that two of Yeshi's ribs were badly broken.

Yeshi Samten was arrested on May 6, 1996, along with approximately 90 monks from Gaden Monastery, when a protest against Chinese "re-education" sessions was held in the monastery. Yeshi was initially detained in Gutsa Detention Centre and was later sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and sent to Trisam Prison in Toelung County. While in prison Yeshi Samten was reported to have been tortured severely and consequently suffered from poor health for which he received no medical care.

Yeshi Samten was released on May 6, 1998, after his prison term had expired. Still suffering from health problems, he died just six days after his release on May 12.

Yeshi Samten was from Tsangtog in Taktse Dechen County under Lhasa City. He is survived by his mother Yangzom and elder brother Tsering Sonam. His father Tashi Dhondup died at an early age. Yeshi Samten went to school at the age of eight and left the school when he was 12 years old to join Gaden Monastery in 1986.

Yeshi Samten's death brings the number of known deaths of Tibetans as a result of torture recorded by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy to 55. Of these 55 deaths, 14 political prisoners died after release from prison or while in hospital. The difficulty of receiving information of prisoners in prisons in Tibet means that many deaths go unreported.

Issued by: Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy