Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy CHILD PRISONERS IN TIBET

The rights of Tibetan children continue to be violated by the Chinese Government in blatant disregard for their international legal obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to which the the People's Republic of China is a State Party. Juveniles such as Sonam Choephel are arbitrarily detained for the peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression, imprisoned together with adult prisoners and denied legal representation and contact with their family.

Sonam Choephel, a 17 year old monk, is the youngest of three sons in his family. Sonam's father is deceased and his mother lives with his two elder brothers in Lhoka, 191 km south of Lhasa. Sonam was a monk at Dhunpu Choekor Monastery which had approximately 70 monks.

In 1992, when Sonam was 13 years old, he and two other monks named Jampel Dorji and Phurbu Tashi, both of similar age to Sonam, pasted wall posters reading Free Tibet in Chideshol in Lhoka. They were arrested by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) just ten days later, detained for five days and subsequently released.

On 5 August 1993 Sonam, Jampel and Phurbu again pasted posters. Jampel and Phurbu were immediately arrested and six weeks later, on 15 September 1996, Sonam was also arrested.

Article 37 (b) of CRC clearly states that no child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. Even the "lawful" arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be used only as a "last resort and for the shortest appropriate time." Contrary to this provision, all three boys were taken to Tsethang prison where they were detained for four months. They were kept incommunicado, in violation of article 37(c) of CRC which states that every child deprived of liberty "shall have the right to maintain contact with his or her family through correspondence and visits, save in exceptional circumstances". Each boy spent his time in Tsethang in solitary confinement.

While in prison, they were interrogated several times as to why they engaged in "counter-revolutionary" activities and Sonam maintained the same answer; "In one's country, one must have freedom of expression". As this initial period of detention was considered a chance for "reformation", Sonam's answer was deemed unsatisfactory and he was subsequently sentenced and transferred to Toelung Prison.

Sonam, aged only 14 at the time, was sentenced to three years while Jampel and Phurbu each received sentences of two and a half years. Again the principle incorporated in article 37(b) was contravened.

In Toelung the boys were mixed with people of varied ages and crime. Only at mealtime did children prisoners sit at a table separate from the adults. This constitutes a further violation of article 37(c) which requires that child prisoners "shall be seperated from adults unless it is considered in the child's best interests not to do so".

Sonam provided the names of four other juvenile prisoners who were also in Toelung Prison: Migmar, a 16 year old monk from Nyethang; Pema Choedak, a 16 year old monk from Phenpo; Gyakloe, a 17 year old from Kyimshe village in Sung-rabling monastery and Luesang, a 16 year old monk from Taktse. All four are still serving their term in Toelung prison.

Sonam was released on 14 August 1996 aged 17 years. Jampel and Phurbu were released six months earlier. Soon after Sonam's release, using a valid travel pass, Sonam went by bus as far as Dram, on the Tibet-Nepal border, after which he had to walk for four nights in a Nepalese costume. He finally reached Dharamsala, India, on 16 February 1997.

TIBET'S LONGEST SERVING FEMALE PRISONERS

Rinzin Choenyi, a 26 year old nun from Shungseb Nunnery, recently arrived in Dharamsala, India, following her release from Drapchi Prison in September 1995. Rinzin was a close cell-mate of both Phuntsok Nyidron, a recipient of the 1995 Reebok Human Rights Award and former longest serving female political prisoner in Tibet, and Ngawang Sangdrol, currently the longest serving female political prisoner in Tibet. Rinzin described Phuntsok as an extremely patriotic and tenacious woman who continuously stood up to the Drapchi prison officials. Upon the announcement of her prolonged prison term in 1993, Phuntsok did not exhibit any feelings of grief. In fact she was constantly heard to say, "I have no regrets whatsoever. By the grace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, everything will be fine and I shall be safe."

Phuntsok comes from a family of eight members, including herself. She was closest to her older brother, Gyatso, who was also her most frequent visitor in prison. His visits stopped when he suffered an epileptic attack and passed away, but it was also suspected that his death may have been due to mental agony over Phuntsok's prolonged prison term. Phuntsok's other siblings comprise an elder sister, two younger sisters who are nuns and a younger brother who is a monk.

On 15 December 1995 Rinzin Choenyi went to visit Phuntsok in prison for the first time since her release. Unknown to her, it was also to be the last time she saw Phuntsok. The friends were not allowed to talk at all during the visit as an attendant stood close by to monitor them.

The second time Rinzin planned to visit was in October 1996. Prior to her visit, Phuntsok sent a message via her father, Choenze la, discouraging Rinzin from coming as she believed it would create unnecessary problems for her friend.

Phuntsok's health is currently poor. She has kidney problems, walks with bent head and regularly complains of internal pains. She is currently serving 17 years. Rinzin described Ngawang Sangdrol as a small-built young nun, known to be very resourceful and courageous.

Once, at a function where many officials and other prisoners were present, some of the nuns were compelled to perform songs and dances. Ngawang Sangdrol gave a solo performance and, when she sang, she replaced the original text with revolutionary words. She was subsequently interrogated and verbally assaulted.

In another incident, a composition written by Ngawang about freedom and Tibet somehow made its way into the hands of the prison officials. As a result she was interrogated and beaten.

Ngawang was involved in many other activities which annoyed the Chinese officials and constantly created difficulties for her.

From 19 April 1996 to 3 October 1996, she was kept in solitary

confinement existing on only two meagre meals a day.

Ngawang is now serving 18 years behind bars and by the time she is released she will be 33 years old.

ESCAPE FROM CHOK-TREH PRISON

According to information recently received, eight Tibetan political prisoners escaped from Gyantse District Prison (Chok-treh Prison) in mid-January 1997.

On 26 December 1996 the eight Tibetans had led a peaceful demonstration at a fair in Sarlha village in Khardoe Sub-District. The demonstration, which lasted half an hour, took place in front of the Gyantse District Headquarters. The protest was joined by some 40 people from the 3000 who had come to attend the fair.

The demonstration was interrupted by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and the People's Armed Police (PAP) who immediately arrested the eight initial "rebels" and charged them with "counter-revolutionary" activities. They were then taken to Gyantse District Prison.

After spending 23 days in prison, one of the prison attendants (name withheld) warned the prisoners that they may be sentenced to at least seven years imprisonment. Fearing that they would have to undergo torture and extended imprisonment, they immediately made plans for escape and succeeded by fleeing through the prison drainage.

INDEPENDENCE CLASHES IN EASTERN TURKISTAN

Recent clashes between Uyghurs and the Chinese Military in Ghulje City (Inin or Yining) in Eastern Turkistan (Uyghuristan) on 6 February 1997 have resulted in numerous deaths and increased ethnic tensions.

According to one source, the riots began when Chinese police attempted to arrest two Urgyur talips (religious school students) from the mosque during a Ramadan religious service two days before the Islamic holiday Ramadan Eid. A fight broke out when worshippers refused to surrender the students and Chinese police allegedly opened fire killing two Uyghurs in the mosque.

The crowd responded by disarming and stabbing the police officers and Chinese reinforcements of secret police and military officers were called in to disperse the crowd. Shortly after, the people took to the streets leading demonstrations against Chinese rule. After severe clashes with the military and police, around 30 Uyghurs were killed and many more seriously injured. Other reports place the death toll at nearly 300. Estimates of Chinese killed range from 10 to 100.

Chinese officials claim the situation is under control after arresting hundreds of Uyghurs and imposing curfews. Uyghur refugees abroad have staged demonstrations burning Chinese national flags and portraits of Jiang Zemin.

Following a Communist takeover of the Republic of East Turkistan in 1949, the far-west province of "Xinjiang" is considered by China to be one of its five autonomous regions. The Turkic-speaking Muslim Uyghurs face an influx of ethnic Chinese, now accounting for around 38 percent of the population. Growing ethnic tensions resulted in a Beijing-ordered religious crackdown last year, targetting underground schools and mosques that promote separatist sentiments and, according to some sources, resulting in some 57,000 arrests.

PROFILE: UNDYING SPIRIT EVEN BEHIND BARS

Jampel Changchup first became involved in Tibet's freedom struggle through publishing underground independence material from his monastery. Thrown into prison for 19 years, his courage in speaking out remains very much alive.

Jampel Changchup (lay name Yugal) is 36 years old and comes from Toelung Dechen Dzong, 12 km west of Lhasa. He was a former monk at Drepung Monastery, 6 km west of Lhasa.

Jampel comes from a family of seven or eight children, several of whom have passed away. Having lost his father at a very early age, Jampel's family has experienced great difficulties due to lack of financial resources.

Jampel was a patriot in the truest sense of the word. From the time he first participated in the mass demonstrations in late September 1987, he has maintained his fight with unrelenting spirit. He was a perpetual freedom activist and persisted despite continuously receiving severe punishment for such activities.

Jampel was unofficially detained on 16 April 1989. However his sentence paper, issued on 7 January 1990, states his official date of arrest as 13 September 1989. At a mass sentencing rally in Lhasa on 30 November 1989, Jampel was among a group of five Tibetans who received sentences of 17 and 19 years imprisonment for independence activities.

Jampel was charged with "espionage" and "organising or leading/actively participating in a counter-revolutionary group". The authorities said the five-member group, based at Drepung Monastery, had produced "reactionary literature" which attacked the Chinese Government and "venomously slandered the people's democratic dictatorship".

The group had been actively involved in printing and smuggling out pro-independence documents, usually reporting on recent dissident activity in Tibet.

One broadsheet, designed to be stuck on walls in Lhasa, gave the number of Tibetans who had been shot dead by police at a pro-independence demonstration. Another informed Tibetans in detail about anti-Chinese sanctions proposed in the US Congress. A third was a Tibetan translation of the Universal Declaraton of Human Rights.

The Drepung group's most important document to have reached the West was a detailed political manifesto emphasising the Tibetans' legal right to self-determinaton and to a fully democratic system. Avoiding any incitement to anti-Chinese feeling, the document urged Tibetans to fight "with inner strength" and called for an end to "foreign domination".

Jampel had also been involved in staging a small pro-independence demonstration in the centre of Lhasa on 27 September 1989 along with other groups of monks. Four days later three thousand lay Tibetans staged a massive protest against the imprisonment of peaceful demonstrators. This gave rise to the current wave of unrest in Tibet.

Jampel was one of 20 monks harshly disciplined for protesting against the transfer of five Drapchi prisoners on 27 April 1991. The five men, according to unofficial reports, were transferred, handcuffed, to an isolated work camp where they were placed under a regime of hard labour and reduced rations.

When Jampel and his friends asked a guard about the whereabouts of the missing men, the guard phoned for assistance and a large contingent of armed soldiers moved in. Each protestor was tied with rope and four or five guards then beat each one unconscious. Prison staff were not allowed to intervene. Most of the protesting men, including Jampel, were thrown in isolation cells, some in manacles.

Jampel was sentenced in 1989 to 19 years imprisonment with five years deprivation of political rights. He is presently in Drapchi prison. His former prison mates who have managed to escape to India say that he suffers severe kidney problems and his eyesight is gradually deteriorating.

HELP TAKE TIBET TO THE UN

The Chinese in their attempt to annihilate the entire race, culture and heritage of more than 2000 years have left no stone unturned. Under the guise of "Strike Hard" campaign, the Chinese Government is systematically implementing plans to crush the Tibetan spirit of freedom. Tibet is undergoing the worst phase of human rights deterioration to date. The need to generate global awareness has become paramount.

The 53rd session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, to be held in Geneva on 10 March 1997, could represent the first step towards a promising future for Tibet. The impetus for a more positive approach regarding Tibet begins with you.

We urge all of our readers to appeal to your national government, foreign ministry and regional representatives to take up the initiative:

1. To submit a concrete resolution condemning China for human rights violations in Tibet.

2.To press for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.

3.To allow internationally recognised human rights observers and other concerned NGOs to enter Tibet in order to monitor the human rights situation.

1996 TCHRD Annual Report

"Tibet: One More Year of Political Repression" details the overall human rights situation in Tibet in 1996, including a complete list of the 1018 known political prisoners currently in detention.

The report is available for Rs. 35 in India, Nepal, Bhutan or US$ 5 (or equivalent in your currency) for overseas. Send cheque or draft in favour of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights & Democracy.

HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN - 1996

Result of Essay Competition: "Release of Tibetan Political Prisoners" Organised by Tibet Bureau for UN Affairs & TCHRD

First: Master Sherab Woeser Choephel (X-D) Upper TCV School Topic: Release Tanak Jigme Sangpo

Second: Master Palden Kyab (VIII-D) Upper TCV School Topic: Release Panchen Lama

Third: Miss Phurbu Dolker (XI-A, Arts) Upper TCV School Topic: Release musician Ngawang Choephel

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is an independent centre which aims to promote and protect human rights and a democratic polity and procedure for Tibet, to educate Tibetans on human rights principles and to work with other human rights and democracy groups as a part of a world-wide movement towards these ends. TCHRD was registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act 21 of 1860.

If you would like to subscribe to TCHRD's regular fortnightly Human Rights Update, or receive more information about the Centre, please send your name and postal details (including e-mail) to the address below:

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