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![]() ![]() The right to freedom of expression and opinion Repressions continue in Tibet under Chinese occupation in-spite of China's claims that "citizens enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration. Citizens have the right to criticize and make suggestions regarding any state organ or functionary; ... According to these stipulations, citizens of China have the right to maintain their own political views, a right which is protected by the law".19 Tibetans inside Tibet do not enjoy the basic human rights to freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly and association. If a Tibetan so much as says "long live the Dalai Lama", he or she may be arrested, tortured and then detained without any formal charges. In 1996 the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy recorded 204 known cases of arrests of Tibetans for expressing their political views and for their devotion to the Dalai Lama. 2.1. International Law Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
2.2. Cases of Violations of Freedom of Expression and Opinion Phuntsok Nyidron, a 28 year-old nun of Michungri Nunnery is serving a 17 year sentence in Lhasa's Drapchi Prison for expressing her political views and singing nationalistic songs whilst in prison. While in Drapchi Prison, Phuntsok Nyidron and 13 other nuns sang and recorded songs dedicated to the independence of Tibet and applauded the Dalai Lama in front of the Chinese prison guards. The songs were later secretly circulated in Tibet. The Chinese authorities deemed that the public distribution of these songs amounted to "spreading counter-revolutionary propaganda". As a result on 8 October 1993 Phuntsok Nyidron's sentence was arbitrarily extended by eight years. Phuntsok Nyidron had been arrested on 14 October 1989, for leading a peaceful demonstration in the Bharkor area in the old town of Lhasa, calling for an end to the Chinese occupation in Tibet. She was sentenced to nine years imprisonment. At the time of their arrest, Phuntsok Nyidron and the other nuns were kicked and beaten and later given electric shocks on their hands, shoulders, breasts, tongue and face. During interrogation each nun was suspended for at least 15 minutes by their hands which were handcuffed behind their backs, their feet above the ground and were beaten with an iron rod whilst in this position. On 31 July 1996 Ngawang Sangdrol, a 21 year-old nun of Garu Nunnery who is presently in Drapchi Prison, was sentenced to an additional nine years for refusing to stand up when a Chinese official entered her prison cell and for shouting "Free Tibet". Ngawang Sangdrol is now serving a total sentence of 18 years and is the longest sentenced Tibetan female political prisoner. In mid-March 1996, four student monks of Nga-rig Kye-tsel-Ling (English: Flourishing Garden of Five Knowledges) at Kumbum Monastery in Amdo Region were arrested for publishing a literature magazine. The four monks were 27-year old Dhamchoe Gyatso, editor of the magazine; Jigme Tendar, 29 years old; Dhamchoe Kalden, 31 years old and Phuntsog, 25 years old. They had published an anthology of new Tibetan literature called "Laughter from the Tsongla Rangmo" - referring to a nearby mountain. The magazine, which contained hand written love poems, prayers, riddles and short stories by local Tibetans, was banned as "counter-revolutionary". The four monks, who were arrested along with 21 other student monks of the monastery, have been detained since that time while the others were released in early May 1996. In November 1989 Ngawang Phulchung, a monk of Drepung Monastery, was sentenced at a public trial in Lhasa to 19 years imprisonment with deprivation of political rights for five years. He was denounced as the leader of a group of four monks who formed a "counter-revolutionary group" which clandestinely produced political leaflets. Among the "reactionary literature" published by the group was a complete Tibetan translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The group also criticised human rights violations by the Chinese and listed names of persons arrested or killed by the Chinese police and military. In another incident, a 24 or 25 year old Tibetan artist named Yungdrung was arrested sometime in late August 1996 in connection with his portraits of the Dalai Lama, some of which included the Tibetan national flag. On October 27th 1996, Yungdrung was found in a state of severe shock in a public toilet in the Bharkor area of Lhasa. The artist was described as "cowering with terror" when he was discovered, apparently as a result of having been tortured in custody. Yungdrung had spent the previous 58 days in Gutsa Detention Centre.
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