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Urgent Action: Tibetan Monks & Nuns Imprisoned for Olympics Protest
 Three nuns and two monks have been imprisoned in Tibet for protesting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and calling for Tibetan independence. Tibet Watch has just confirmed that two of the nuns, Tadrin Tsomo and Choekyi Drolma and one of the monks, Dargye Gyatso were all sentenced to three years imprisonment for distributing and posting protest fliers. The third nun, Yonten Drolma and another monk, Jamyang Samdrub, were both sentenced to one and a half years imprisonment. All five were arrested in May 2005 in Labrang County, Kham (south west region of Tibet).
Please send the letter below to China's Minister of Justice, Zhang Fusen, calling for their unconditional release.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Release Imprisoned Tibetans Now.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing to express concern regarding the imprisonment of three nuns, Tadrin Tsomo, Choekyi Drolma and Yonten Drolma from Gendun Tengye Ling Nunnery, and two monks, Dargye Gyatso and Jamyang Samdrub from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery. They were detained for peacefully expressing their opinion and calling on the Chinese Government to peacefully resolve the conflict in Tibet.
Their arrest is a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which guarantee the freedom of opinion and expression.
I call for the immediate and unconditional release of the five monks and nuns arrested in May 2005, and for them to be allowed to return to their respective monastery and nunnery.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
February 09, 2006
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Recent information received by Tibet Watch confirms that three nuns from Gendun Tengye Ling Nunnery and two monks from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery in Labrang County were sentenced to various prison terms.
ARRESTS AND IMPRISONMENT
Two of the nuns, Tadrin Tsomo and Choekyi Drolma, and one of the monks, Dargye Gyatso, were all sentenced to three years imprisonment. The third nun, Yonten Drolma (earlier reported as Yonten Tsomo, lay name: Dukarkyi), and the second monk, Jamyang Samdrub, were both sentenced to one and a half years imprisonment. Details reveal that Yonten Drolma and Choekyi Drolma were arrested on their way from the nunnery to Labrang town, Tamdrin Tsomo's arrest took place at her home and Dargye Gyatso was arrested in his room in the monastery. Circumstances surrounding Jamyang Samdrub's arrest are still unclear. While the monks were detained in Labrang Public Security Bureau (PBS) detention centre, it is suggested that the nuns were detained in the Hezuo, Gannan prefecture's headquarters.
The arrests took place on 22 May 2005, for involvement in the distribution and pasting of a protest letter in Labrang Monastery, the market of Labrang County and allegedly also in Hezuo and in areas in neighbouring Qinhai Province, a few previously. The letter called for the independence of Tibet, for the Chinese authorities to enter into negotiations, and reportedly said that China should not host the 2008 Olympics until the Tibet question is peacefully resolved. One of the letters was seen on the gate of the PSB [in Labrang] and one on an electricity pole in the monastery.
THE MONKS AND NUNS
Dargye Gyatso, in his late 20s, was born in Dzormo village, Nyintha Shang in Sogpo Mongol County of Malho Prefecture in Qinghai. Originally he joined Tsang Monastery in Sogpo Mongol County and later moved to Labrang Monastery. He spent a few years in India before returning to Labrang Monastery in 2004. However, he was not allowed to be fully re-admitted to the monastery, meaning that he was barred from attending prayer meetings and courtyard debates. The second monk, Jamyang Samdrub, from Dragmar Township in Sogpo Mongol County.
Choekyi Drolma, in her early 20s, was born in Kawasumdo County of Tsolho Prefecture. Tadrin Tsomo, also in her early 20s, is from Dosum Township, Sogpo Mongol County. Yonten Drolma, 23, is from Khisin Township in Sogpo Mongol County. All three nuns were part of Gendun Tengye Ling, a monastic institution currently housing around 170 nuns. While the day-to-day management of this nunnery is in the hands of the female practitioner and former nun Gungri Khandrolma, the patron of the nunnery is Konchen Jamyang Shepa, the highest lama of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery.
Testimonies gathered by Tibet Watch from Tibetans who were detained in the Labrang PSB detention centre indicate systematic beating, the threat and use of electric prods during interrogations and depravation of adequate food.
*Report from Free Tibet Campaign
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