The following is the testimony of Rinzin Choenyi, a 26 year-old nun of Shugseb Nunnery, who spent six years in Drapchi Prison. She, and other female political prisoners, suffered a variety of torture methods whilst in prison and, in some cases, this has resulted in death.

Rinzin Choenyi was expelled from her nunnery in 1988 because of her participation in a demonstration in Lhasa along with 11 nuns and two monks. She and one of the monks had managed to escape while 11 of the demonstrators were arrested.

On 22 Sept. 1989, Choenyi once again participated in a demonstration, this time with five other nuns of Shugseb Nunnery. She was arrested and taken first to Gutsa Detention Centre where she was detained for two months. She was subsequently sentenced to 7 yrs imprisonment with two years deprivation of political rights. Her sentence was later reduced to 6 years for "good behaviour".

For her entire two months detention in Gutsa, Choenyi was kept in solitary confinement. During the first 3 days, she was interrogated 3 times a day. After that she was interrogated once or twice daily up until the day of her release.

During these interrogation sessions Choenyi was severely tortured. She was made to hang from the ceiling for one hour or more with her hands tied behind her back. While in this position, she was rotated and beaten with twisted jute ropes. Custom-made electric wires were wrapped around her fingers and she was subjected to electric shocks. At the same time she was kicked and burnt with cigarettes. She describes the use of these finger wires to inflict electric shocks as the most painful means of torture that she had to endure.

After completing two months in Gutsa, Choenyi was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and was transferred to Drapchi Prison.

While in Drapchi, Choenyi experienced even worse torture. She recalls that if the nuns were caught reciting Buddhist texts, they would be subjected to electric shocks in the mouth with an electric baton, and when caught prostrating, they were forced to prostrate in water and ice.

On the first day of the Tibetan New Year on 10 March 1992, which also coincided with Tibetan National Uprising Day (of 10 March 1959), the nuns in Drapchi Prison wore new clothes to celebrate the occasion. The prison authorities ordered the nuns to remove their new clothes and when they refused, 23 of the nuns were beaten continuously for three days by 50 to 60 members of the People's Armed Police (PAP). Each nun was beaten by five or six PAP members at a time who kicked them and used electric batons and belts to torture them.

During her stay in Gutsa and then in Drapchi, Choenyi was forced to acquiesce to blood extraction on three occasions. On her third blood extraction in Drapchi, she became so weak that she had to be hospitalised for 28 days.

Choenyi was released in September 1995 after completing six years in Drapchi Prison.

Cases of torture in Drapchi Prison:

* Phuntsok Yangkyi, a 20 year-old nun of Michungri Nunnery, died on 4 June 1994. Choenyi reports that, while in hospital, Phuntsok Yangkyi was injected twice in her back and a Chinese doctor extracted a body fluid (Tibetan: Geychu). Chinese believe that this fluid is good for increasing vitality. Phuntsok Yangkyi went into a coma after the doctor extracted this fluid from her back. Her nails, tongue and lips turned bluish black. She died six days after being taken to the hospital. Her parents were not given her body.

* Gyaltsen Kalsang, a 24 year-old nun from Garu Nunnery, died on 20 February 1995 due to torture and medical neglect while in prison. Arrested on 14 June 1993 for her involvement in pro-independence activities, she was sentenced to two years. In late November 1994 she was hospitalised. While in Drapchi Prison, Gyaltsen Kalsang was diagnosed as suffering from severe kidney problem, yet was still made to participate in strenuous running exercise despite her weak physical condition.

* Rinzin Choenden was a 25 year-old nun of Shugseb Nunnery. She participated in a demonstration on 1 March 1989 and was arrested on 8 March 1989. Rinzin Choenden was detained in Gutsa Detention Centre for one night and then taken to Chushul Dzong Prison, 60 km south west of Lhasa.

During her seven day detention, she was subjected to severe torture. On the eighth day, Rinzin Choenden was taken to Shugseb Nunnery in a critical condition. She had to be hospitalised between April 1989 to some time in 1990 and her kidney was reportedly badly damaged. Rinzin Choenden died shortly after in 1990 at the age of 25.

* Lobsang Dolma was a 26 year-old nun of Shugseb Nunnery. She was arrested on 17 May 1988 for her participation in a demonstration. She was detained in Gutsa for two months during which time she was severely tortured. Her ribs were badly broken which in turn caused severe pain in her abdomen. Lobsang Dolma was released after two months detention. Despite her critical condition, she tried to escape to India in 1989 but died on the way even before she arrived at the Tibet border.

* Gyaltsen Choedron was a 28 year-old nun of Garu Nunnery. She was arrested on 22 August 1990 and was detained in Gutsa for four months. After completing four months in Gutsa, Gyaltsen Choedron was sentenced to four years and transferred to Drapchi Prison. Her sentence was later increased by five years for singing and recording patriotic songs. In 1992 while in prison, she participated in the Tibetan New Year celebrations by wearing new clothes and was severely beaten by members of the PAP. As a result her right leg is permanently damaged.

* Choekyi Wangmo is a 27 year-old nun from Phenpo (nunnery not known) who was sentenced to five years imprisonment after her arrest in 1993 for participating in a demonstration. Choekyi Wangmo was detained in Gutsa for five to six months during which time she was subjected to severe torture. When she was transferred to Drapchi Prison after her sentencing, she was in a very weak condition. She was constipated most of the time and passed a lot of blood in her stool. Despite her deteriorating health, she was made to perform the running exercises along with the rest of the political prisoners. During her stay in Drapchi Prison, she was allowed to meet with relatives and visitors on only four occasions. She is reportedly in very poor health as a result of torture in prison.

* Ngawang Choekyi is a 22 year-old nun of Garu Nunnery. She was arrested on 14 June 1993 and was detained in Gutsa for six months. While in Gutsa Detention Centre she became very ill due to torture and poor prison diet.

Ngawang Choekyi always suffered from diarrhoea with blood. She was sentenced to four years and transferred to Drapchi Prison. Her left leg was badly damaged due to torture and she suffered from a sore stomach which may have been an ulcer. In 1996, when Tibetan doctors conducted a urine test for her, they confirmed that she may not live long.

Hunger strike in Drapchi Prison

According to new arrivals from Tibet, on 19 April 1996 female political prisoners in Drapchi Prison went on a hunger strike as a protest against a prison order forbidding the families of the prisoners from bringing them food. The prisoners also protested against the poor prison diet.

81 of the 145 female political prisoners in Drapchi participated in this hunger strike. The remaining 64 female political prisoners are reportedly segregated from the rest of the prisoners and therefore could not participate in the hunger strike.

Prison terms for monks

A former political prisoner of 13 years, (name withheld for security reasons) recently fled Tibet, arriving in India in late 1996.

He reported the arrest of three monks from Rapten Monastery in Rong Village under Nagchu, in the beginning of 1996. They were charged for pasting wall posters which condemned the Chinese choice of Panchen Lama and praised the Dalai Lama.

The three arrested were: Lobsang Tenchong, aged 17 years from Maho who was sentenced to five years imprisonment; Lobsang Tharchin, aged 18 years from Gamthong, who was sentenced to four years and Lobsang Tenchong, 18 years old from Maho, who was sentenced to four years. All three are serving their terms in Sangyip Prison.

Prior to their detention they were said to have been publicly paraded on two occasions as a warning to others not to engage in similar "counter-revolutionary" activities.

Cultural sites under threat

The above informer expressed great concern over the possible destruction of two revered spiritual sites in Tibet.

The first relates to the notion propagated by the Chinese that a large diamond lies at the bottom of Lake Lhamo Lhatso,in Gyatsa district 332 Km S.E of Lhasa one of the most sacred lakes in Tibet. This legend is being used to justify plans for the immediate excavation of the lake.

The second threat relates to the possible sale of Nagla Hill in Nagchu district. The transaction, presently at a halt, is to be carried out by Tenzin, an official leader of the Nagchu district. Such an act is repugnant to the Tibetans as the hill is not only embedded with rich mineral resources but the Tibetan deity of Chakdor (Sanskrit: Vajrapani) is also believed to rest there.

The UN Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Co-operation specifies that "Each culture has a dignity and value which must be respected and preserved" and that "every people has the right and the duty to develop its own culture".

The destruction or disposal of sacred sites would amount to a clear violation of the Tibetan people's right to "freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development" and to "freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources" as protected by Article 1 of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.

An Appeal from Tibet

The following is an excerpt of an appeal letter received from Lhasa, Tibet. The letter, dated December 1996, describes the new problems of unemployment and prostitution found in the capital today under Chinese rule.

Tibetan people are suffering tremendously from Chinese suppression. It is very hard to live under Chinese occupation. In Tibet's major cities, Tibetans are outnumbered by Chinese. There are 6 to 10 Chinese for every one Tibetan and, in the Lhasa area, 10 to 15 Chinese for every one Tibetan. How sad the Tibetan people are today, outnumbered in their own land by the Communist Chinese.

Jobs at all levels are given to new Chinese settlers. All road construction, engineering work and development projects are run by the Chinese which leaves the Tibetans jobless. The Tibetan people face difficulties in simply living day to day.

The Lhasa Development Bureau is the main Chinese authority in Lhasa responsible for the many Chinese enterprises in Tibet. Tibetan workers have had their jobs taken away and their very livelihood threatened as a result of policies favouring Chinese employees.

Older workers have had their benefits stopped while younger workers fail to receive their monthly salaries on time. This in turn is creating crises within the families of Tibetan workers. High-ranking Tibetans working in Chinese offices are provided with an additional allowance and are able to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle.

Instead of helping the Tibetan people the Chinese officials are conducting house raids, ransacking their belongings and destroying pictures of His Holiness. We Tibetans are living under turmoil. There is not a single day of peace and joy.

Every corner of Lhasa is filled with prostitutes who demoralise young Tibetans and create problems within families. Each Chinese officer is accompanied by several prostitutes. Young Tibetan girls are brought from the countryside to work in the brothels. The situation in Lhasa is tragically deteriorating.

Traditionally, Tibetan monasteries have used donated funds for religious ceremonies. Today they are not free to use donations in this way. In November 1996, during the prayer festival at Sera Monastery, Chinese officials took 37,800 Chinese yuan given as donations, saying that they would keep the amount in the bank.

Rinzin Wangyal Sentenced to 16 Years

According to unconfirmed reports from Tibet, Rinzin Wangyal was sentenced on December 13, 1996 to 16 years imprisonment.

Rinzin (alias Rinwang), a 49 year-old worker at a cement factory in Lhasa was arrested in August 1995 by the Public Security Bureau for political reasons.

Prior to his arrest in 1995, Rinzin was arrested once before between 1966-67 for allegedly organising an underground movement and was imprisoned in Drapchi Prison. While in prison, he was regularly tortured and interrogated by the prison authorities. Rinzin was released from Drapchi Prison in 1982-1983.

Rinzin Wangyal's younger brother Tsedor, had been executed in 1970 for his alleged involvement in forming an underground movement. In 1994, Rinzin Wangyal's brother-in-law, Karma Gelek was arrested for political reasons and still remains in prison.

Rinzin Wangyal's wife Sonam, a daughter of the Yabshi Phunkhang family (family of the 13th Dalai Lama) died in October or November 1996 after being repeatedly refused permission to see her husband for the last time. During her prolonged illness, the Public Security Bureau failed to respond to several letters of appeal by Rinzin Wangyal and his wife's relatives requesting for a last meeting between the couple.

PROFILE: Chamdo Monks Imprisoned up to 15 Years

Five Serwa monks, all from Chamdo Prefecture, are presently serving sentences of 12 to 15 years for pasting posters and shouting slogans calling for an independent Tibet and the long life of the Dalai Lama. They have been tortured and used as public examples of what can happen to those who disagree with Chinese policy.

Chime Dorje, now 29 years old, is from Serwa village in Joju sub-county, under Pasho County in Chamdo Prefecture. His father, Phuntsok Wangdu, and older brother, Norbu, are both farmers and his mother has passed away.

Pema Tsering, now 25, is from Gyabdo village in Joju, Pasho, in Chamdo. His father, Jampal, is the head of the Gyabdo village.

Lobsang Tsegyal (sometimes called Lobsang Khyi-kyag) 29, is from Serwa village. His father, Dham Namgyal and his mother, Dechen Sangmo, are both farmers.

Jampa Tashi, aged 28, is from Gyabdo village. His father, Lobsang Yarphel, and his mother, both farmers, are now deceased.

Lobsang Palden, aged 26 today, is from Serwa village. His father, named Ngawang Tobden, is a farmer and his mother, named Sonam Wangmo, has passed away. His older brother, Lobsang Tenzin, is a teacher at the Serwa village school.

All five men were farmers before joining Serwa Monastery.

At around midnight on 29 March 1994, the five monks went to the headquarters of the Lingkha District People's Government in Pasho County. From the main gates of the headquarters, they removed the two nameplates which read "Party People's Government" and "District People's Government". The monks broke the first nameplate into pieces and threw it to the ground and replaced the second nameplate upside down.

On the walls of the building the monks pasted posters reading "May His Holiness the Dalai Lama Live for Ten Thousand Years" and "Tibet is an Independent Country". At the bottom of the posters the monks put their names, thumb impressions and wrote, "We are from Serwa Monastery".

As the five were walking from Lingkha district to Pasho County they met Lobsang, the Party Secretary of Lingkha district. They demanded that he drive them to the county headquarters where they planned to stage a demonstration.

On their way to the County Headquarter the monks put up posters on the walls of government and military offices and shouted slogans, calling again for independence and the long life of the Dalai Lama.

The five monks were then driven directly into the compound of the County Public Security Bureau (PSB) where a number of policeman were called in to take the monks into custody. In order to make a public example of them, the five monks were then each tied by one thumb and kept in aerial suspension at the PSB gate.

Later, during interrogation, when the police demanded to know who among them led the shouting, all five shouted in unison to claim the responsibility for himself. All five were then severely beaten and it was reported that their faces were afterwards full of open wounds and that a pool of blood had formed on the floor of the interrogation room. After five days the monks were handed over to the Chamdo Prefectural PSB.

When relatives and friends went to Chamdo to take tea and butter to the monks the police told them, "There is no reason why these mad rebels against the Communist Party of China, would need these gifts. Yes, we allow murderers to be visited in prison. But these are opponents of the Communist Party of China." The visitors were sent away with their gifts without being allowed to see the monks.

Around 10 May 1994, the five were handed over to the PSB of Pasho County. The Pasho PSB questioned Lobsang Palden's brother, Sangpo Tenzin and Chime Dorje's brother, Norbu as to who had told them that Tibet is an independent country. Sangpo and Norbu replied that they had learnt it through the Tibetan language service of the VOA broadcasts. This angered Pasho police who severely beat the two monks.

The Pasho PSB afterwards visited Serwa Monastery where they announced, "The Serwa Monastery has since 1959 always been stirring up disturbances. That is why we never provided it with facilities for rebuilding and renovation. ... Right now those who say they will win Tibet's independence are wearing iron shackles on their feet and wrists, sitting on cold cemented floor."

On 6 July 1994 a public meeting was held at which the decision of the Chamdo Intermediate People's Court regarding the five Serwa monks was announced. They had allegedly been found guilty of "counter-revolutionary" crimes on clear and proven evidence in accordance with the relevant provisions of the PRC's Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code".

Chime Dorje, Lobsang Tsegyal and Pema Tsering were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with deprivation of political rights for a further five years. Lobsang Palden and Jampa Tashi were sentenced to twelve years with deprivation of political rights for four years.

The television broadcast of the sentences stated that the five had allegedly put up posters "with the aim of splitting the motherland" and had defaced government nameplates "to indicate that they were overthrowing the township people's government." The broadcast described the verdict as a "signal to anyone who would undermine Tibet's stability or its allegiance to Beijing."

2 March 1997

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
Narthang Building
Gangchen Kyishong
Dharamsala H.P., India
Ph: +91 1892 22457/22510
Fax: +91 1892 24957
E-mail: diir@dsala.tibet.net

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Last updated: 12-Aug-97