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This is a list of the demonstrators, who died while participating in peaceful protest marches, or in prison in Tibet since 1987. There are more than 150 death cases in all but here we have put only those 96 cases where the victims could be identified by their names. If we include the unidentified cases, the number seems to be more than 200. Of course, not to mention those who have been killed since the Chinese invasion in 1959--more than 1.2 million Tibetan people have lost their lives. Moreover, a large number of people have been suffering from depression by being deprived of their beloved families and land by the Chinese. |
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 Tashi
Tsering died in October 1999 at the age of 39. He was arrested on 26th August
1999, during the sixth National Minority Games held in Lhasa. He managed to lower
the Chinese flag on a flagpole in the Potala Square and attempted to replace it
with a Tibetan national flag. He had dynamite or a combustible material strapped
to his body. He tried to light the dynamite, but was unsuccessful because it was
raining at the time. He shouted "Free Tibet" slogans when he was arrested. The
security police were able to arrest him before he raised the Tibetan national
flag or exploded the device, and he was severely beaten on the spot. He was badly
injured and his arm was dislocated. The police, instead of taking him to prison,
took him to the police hospital near Sera monastery. He was hospitalized for a
month and later died in the same hospital. His wife and a group of people were
also arrested on charges of suspicion. A Tibetan national flag was found when
their house was searched.Tashi Tsering was from the Lhoka district and a resident of Lhasa. He was working as a carpenter. He is survived by his wife Lhadon and two children, one is paralyzed. Tashi Tsering had previously been selected as one of the ten best youth by the Chinese, for which he had been given monetary help to build a school in his locality. |
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Ven. Lobsang Tsondue, alias
Hor Lagen, was born at Janag Nagchu in 1911. He  became
a monk at Shar-rong monastery at the age of 7. Later he joined Hardong House of
Drepung Gomang monastery, and studied Buddhist philosophy. In 1960 he planned
to escape to India in the footsteps of His Holiness the Dalai Lama but failed.
He was arrested and detained for 15 days. He struggled hard to secure justice
for the Tibetans and he was imprisoned four times and served 22 years in jail
for his pro-independence activities. He died in 1999 at age 88.In 1965 under the so-called "Patriotic Advice" campaign, he was asked to criticize His Holiness the Dalai Lama and also the Panchen Lama. He displayed photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his two tutors on the roof of his house and recited prayers the whole night. For this act, he was dubbed the "little Panchen" and was arrested and imprisoned for 5 years in Tiyi-tue prison. When the prisoners were ordered to kill insects, he refused. They hung a rat around his neck to kill. He didn't even harm the animal, much less kill it. He was also asked to criticize His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his two tutors, which he refused. For this, his sentence was increased by 10 years, making it 15 years in total. In 1980, he was released after completing his sentence. He returned to Drepung monastery.  In
the first week of September 1987, when the younger Tibetan generations were actively
involved in the pro-independence demonstration in Lhasa, he supported their activities
whole heartedly. Thus, in 1988 he was once again imprisoned for 9 months, and
in 1989, he was further sentenced to 6 years in Drapchi. When the Chinese officials
came to question him, he proclaimed that Tibet was a sovereign country under the
leadership of His.Holiness the Dalai Lama.On 15/12/1990, a young political prisoner named Lhakpa Tsering died in the prison. Ven. Lobsang Tsondue paid homage to the dead person and protested against the prison authorities to improve conditions of prisoners in various prisons inside Tibet. For this, he was put in solitary confinement, where he suffered untold hardship and torture. In 1996, he was released after the expiration of his sentence and was sent back to his monastery. By that time he was 85 years old. He was not happy in the monastery, as he didn't receive the political rights that other inmates were entitled to. Also, there was no one to look after him and he had to depend on others for food and money. He was in poor health and died in January of 1999 at Drepung monastery at the age of 88. The monastery committee arranged a grand funeral for him at Drikhung hill. Many local Tibetans came to show their last respects and prayed for his death soul by putting scarves on his dead body and donating money and butter lamps. |
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 Phuntsok
was a former political prisoner who died on 2/9/1999 in Lhasa. He was born
in 1939 in Lhasa. At a very young age, he became a monk at Jhang Talung Monastery,
but didn't remain a monk for long. He worked as a motor mechanic and lived in
Tsoma ling Township. Later in life, he married twice. He had two children from
his first wife, whom he then separated. His son is in the police service in Lhasa
and his daughter, Diki Metok, is presently studying in TCV Suja school
in exile. In 1993, he came with his second wife, Tsering Dolma, for a Kalachakra initiation and religious pilgrimage to India. He returned to Lhasa taking with him many books on Tibetan issues, and an audio and video cassette. The books included the biography of His Holiness, some books related to human rights and others on the future policy of Tibetan politics. He distributed these books and cassettes to Tibetans all over the region. In 1994, with the help of two monks and three nuns, Mr. Phuntsok wrote letters about the suffering and true situation of Tibetan people, and their struggle against the Chinese.The letters were sent to the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India. In 1995, during the celebration of the "Tibet Autonomous Region Day", the Lhasa police came to search his house and arrested him on a charge of suspicion. The police found pro-independence documents at his house. He was detained at Sangyip prison for a few months and later sentenced to two years imprisonment at Drapchi prison. In prison during interrogation, he was severely beaten and tortured in order to extract information. His ribs and some vertebrae were broken and he lost a sense of feeling in his body. His health condition deteriorated but he did not receive any medical treatment in prison. When his health condition became very bad, he was released from prison on medical parole. His family had to meet his medical expenses which later put them in great financial debt. He eventually died in an extremely poor condition. |
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Tenpa Phulchung was a great scholar, a nationalist
and a warrior who dedicated his life to securing justice for Tibetan people against
the Chinese rule. He was born in Lhasa in 1935. During his childhood he studied
various arts. When the Chinese first came to Tibet in 1949, the Tibetan people
organised a letter-writing campaign to protest against the Chinese. Tenpa Phulchung
helped his fellow Tibetans in the letter-writing campaign. In 1959, he joined the "Tibetan Dharma Protection Movement" and was involved in political activities to fight against the Chinese. He was arrested at Norbu Lingka and was sent to Jang Tsala Karpo labour camp. After 4 years of hard labour he was released in 1963. He continued to work secretly against the Chinese for the welfare of the Tibetan community, putting his own life at risk. In a book he authored, he wrote of the inaccuracy of the Chinese claim of having "liberated"a million underprivileged Tibetans, and he exposed the difficulties of the Tibetan people under the Chinese rule. He sent a petition to the United Nations in the name of the "Struggle Committee of Justice of Three Provinces of Tibet" in which he wrote about the critical situation of Tibetan people and their struggle for independence from Chinese rule. He sent letters to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the government-in-exile about the suffering of Tibetan people and their struggle, and their hopes and aspirations inside Tibet. On 27th September 1987, he distributed pro-independence pamphlets to the masses. When his campaign became more active, he was re-arrested at his house on 16th December 1987. His house was ransacked by the police and they found posters written in bold letters asserting Tibetan Independence. He was sent to Sangyip prison in Lhasa. In 1989 while in prison, he composed a poem based on the major peaceful pro-independence demonstration in Tibet entitled "The Song of Truth at the Dawn of the 21st Century". For this, his sentence was extended by 7 years. On 29 April 1991, he and four other monks, Tenpa Wangdak, Gyadar, Penpa and Lobsang Tenzin, were transferred to Pawo Tramo prison in Kongpo district. There, he and other political prisoners were forced to do hard labour, in order to be "reformed". He was released on the expiry of his sentence on 17th December 1994. He died four years later on 29th November 1998 at the age of 63 due to the severe treatment he suffered in prison. |
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 Sonam
Wangdu was born in Lhasa in 1956. He lives in house # 45, courtyard 2, Trenkonchu,
Medical Road, Lhasa. His is from th Paljor Rabten family. He was working as a
carpenter in a construction group in Lhasa.On 5/3/1988, he took part in a peaceful demonstration with thousands of Tibetans in Lhasa where they demanded human rights and freedom for Tibetans. This demonstration turned into a big riot where the Tibetans attacked the Chinese army with stones and sticks and the Chinese used guns on them. One policeman, Hon-re-ren, was thrown from a building top and died on the spot. Many Tibetans were hurt and some were killed. He was arrested by the police and was taken to Gutsa prison. The prison officials tortured him with electric prod and severely beat him with iron rods to unconsciousness in order to extract information and force confession for killing the Chinese policeman. On 19/12/ 1988, he was taken the to People's Court at Lhasa for trial and sentencing. He was allowed no legal representation. Even during the trial, he was severely beaten by policemen to ensure that he would confess to the Chinese accusations. He was accused of inciting dissent to demonstrate against the Chinese government, and also accused of killing the policeman, Hon-re-ren. He was thus sentenced to life imprisonment at Drapchi prison. On 19/3/1989, he was taken to Drapchi prison where he faced extreme torture and was put in a dark cell with no food and water for many days. He had to work labor with other prisoners even though his health condition was very poor and he used a walking stick. The guards accused him of using the stick to avoid labor. He sustained permanent injury to his body and became paralyzed in the lower part of his body. He could no longer control his bladder and bowels and had to use rubber tubes to urinate. He had been a well-built and strong man, but in prison he became weak and lost weight, and needed the help of a walking stick. From the prison beatings, he had permanent internal injuries which eventually led to his death. Paralyzed from the waist down, he died in March of 1999 at the age of 43, and is survived by his wife and three children, two of whom are currently living in exile. Sonam Wangdu was released from prison in 1993 most likely because his death seemed imminent. A father of three, his only employment after release was to sell kites to children in the marketplace, and to mend lamps to earn a living. For attempting to secure legitimate rights and justice for Tibetan people he suffered untold atrocities for 11 years. Fluid accumulated in his body and he died in March 1999 in Lhasa. He is survived by his wife and three children. |
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 Sonam
Rinchen, died, aged twenty-seven, in the last week of January 2000. He was
born in Gama Dhashar, a village in the Meldro Gungkar area near Lhasa. He became
involved in pro-independence activities following the demonstration in Lhasa on
27 September 1987. For a while he distributed and pasted up pro-independence posters
in his village. On 12 June 1992 Sonam Rinchen, along with four other people, demonstrated
against the Chinese work team when they came to 're-educate' the villagers. They
were arrested and taken to Gutsa Detention Center. In October 1992 Sonam Rinchen
was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment and sent to Drapchi Prison. |
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 Sholpa
Dawa [Shol], born in 1940, was a tailor in Lhasa. He was first arrested
on 27 September 1981 for distributing pro-independence pamphlets. He was sentenced
to two years imprisonment, serving six months at Gutsa and one and a half years
at Sangyip Prison. In 1985 he was arrested again, this time for distributing pamphlets
denouncing the appalling living conditions of Tibetans and the invasion by the
Chinese. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment and sent to Sangyip. Sholpa
Dawa was arrested for a third time in 1995, and on 8 August 1996 he was sentenced
to nine years imprisonment and sent to Drapchi Prison. He died in November 2000,
as a result of the severe abuse received in custody, more
here |
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Tsering Wangdrag Tsering Wandrag, a Tibetan farmer in his thirties, died in a Chinese prison in August 2000 following several beatings and severe maltreatment. He was serving a sentence of almost four years after being arrested in October 1999 for taking part in a demonstation in Kardze, Sichuan. The protest was against the arrest of respected Buddhist leader and Tibetan scholar, Sonam Phuntsog, who is still reported in detention. - Tibet Information Network, 6th February 2001. |
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Ngawang Lochoe, lay name Dondup
Dolma, was born at Nyel in Toelung and was a nun at Samdrup Dolma Lhakang
Nunnery in Nyethang. In May 1992 she, along with five other nuns, participated in a pro-independence demonstration in the Lhasa Barkhor area. She was arrested and taken to Gutsa Detention Center, where she was detained for four months. She was then sentenced to five years imprisonment and sent to Drapchi Prison. After a tape-recording incident in June 1993, her sentence was extended by five years to a total of ten years. In February 2001 she died, aged twenty-six, in the police hospital. |
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 Ngawang
Sangdrol, daughter of Namgyal Tashi, the longest serving female political prisoner with 23 years sentence. Tochter von Namgyal Tashi, ist die längste weibliche politische Gefangene mit einer Haftstrafe von 23 Jahren. |
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Dawa According to reports from TCHRD (Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy), Saru Dawa died in prison in mysterious circumstances on 9 January 2001. Saru was returning to visit his sick mother but was arrested at the Chinese border at Dram in November. He was found to be carrying a photograph of himself with the Dalai Lama and several books published by the Tibetan exile community. Chinese officials claim that the 27 year old monk was unwell and that it was this, along with his crime, that drove him to commit suicide. (TCHRD 22 Feb 2001) |
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According to a March 1988 Radio Lhasa broadcast, "on the afternoon of July 26, 1987, two monks, Yulo Dawa Tsering and Thupten Tsering, spread reactionary views, such as Tibetan Independence, to foreign reactionary elements who came to Tibet as tourists. The two monks also viciously vilified the policies adopted by the Chinese Communist Party and the People's government." Both the monks were charged under Article 102(2) of China's Criminal Law for spreading "counter-revolutionary propaganda". After their arrest on 26 December 1987, they were first detained in Seitru Detention Center for a year, seven months of which were spent in solitary confinement with regular nightly interrogations. On 19 January 1989, the Lhasa Intermediate People's Court sentenced Yulo Dawa Tsering to 10 years and Venerable Thupten Tsering to 6 years and they were subsequently incarcerated in Drapchi Prison. During a November 1990 visit to Tibet, diplomats from four Scandinavian courtesies met Tulku Dawa Tsering in Drapchi, and they reported that he was in fairly good condition. Yulo Dawa Tsering was then released conditionally three weeks before a UN team arrived in November 1994. He told them that there was a ban on religious activity in prison, and also a ban on readmission to monasteries for monks and nuns. Both practices were later mentioned in the UN report following the visit. Even though he was released, he was under regular surveillance by the Chinese Army. He also suffered from both mental and physical illness because of the long period of imprisonment and inhumane treatment. He died on 16 January 2002 at 2.55 p.m. at his home in Lhasa. We deeply mourn the death of this ardent political prisoner, Venerable Yulo Tulku Dawa Tsering. [ more here ] |
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Thupten Namdol was born in Dagpo Township, Gyatsa County, Lhoka Prefecture, Tibetan Autonomous Region. He joined Dagpo Shedupling Monastery and became a monk. During the 1959 Uprising, he liaised between Dagpo Shedupling Monastery and the Voluntary Freedom Fighters for his country. He was arrested in 1960 on charges of counter-revolutionary and advocacy of Tibetan independence. He was sentenced to a 20-year imprisonment and incarcerated in the Drapchi Prison in Lhasa. In 1964, he was transferred to the Powo Tramo Prison located approximately 500 km to the east of Lhasa City. In 1980, he was released from this prison, after the completion of his prison term. He once again worked for the Tibetan freedom movement. In the same year, he came to India to meet his relatives and friends. He then returned to Tibet and sent abroad some of the independence articles written by his friend, Tenpa Phulchung through a tourist. He along with Choezed Metok, printed and pasted hundreds of posters expressing their gratitude and sending greetings to all the demonstrators who participated in the peaceful independence demonstration held in Lhasa on September 27, and October 1, 1987. He was arrested on December 16, 1987, on charges of possessing posters advocating Tibetan independence. He was incarcerated at the Tibetan Autonomous Region's Sangyip Prison. He was in poor health and had been subjected to beatings on several occasions. The guards did not permit him to consult the prison doctor. On 6 November 1994, he was conditionally released under amnesty. He suffered from both mental and physical illness because of the long period of imprisonment and inhuman treatment. He died on 17 May 2002 at his home in Lhasa, after a prolonged illness. |
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In the evening of the 15th the Chinese police came to the monastery and interrogated all the monks. On being coerced and paid money one of the monks revealed that Lobsang was the one who spearheaded the poster-pasting campaign. Thus, on November 25, Lobsang was arrested by the Chinese police. His room in the monastery was searched and the Chinese found Tibetan independence posters and a wooden block for the printing of the posters. The intermediate court of Golog sentenced Lobsang to a two and a half years in prison. The news of Lobsang's patriotic deeds reached the Tibetan Youth Congress. At its 9th general meeting in August 1995, Lobsang Dhargyal and his comrades-in-arms, Losang Palden, and Yeshe Gyaltsen were given the bravery awards in absentia. Their sacrifice for Tibet and their brethren is an inspiration for all of us. Lobsang was released on May 25, 1995 after the conclusion of his term. Any person who has served a sentence in a prison is expelled from his monastery. Therefore, Lobsang was enduring many problems of being expelled from his monastery, not having a work to earn his livelihood etc. But, he continued to involve himself in political activities for his country and countrymen. In April 1997 he escorted Shingsa Rinpoche to into exile to study. In 2001
Lobsang returned to Golog to meet his ageing mother. But before reaching Shigatse
he was arrested by the Chinese police and subsequently handed over to the Administrator
of Golog. He was sentenced to a 16-year term and sent to a prison in Siling. There
he was forced to do hard manual labour at an electricity plant. |
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Lobsang Damchoe was born in Changra, Gyaltse district, Tibet in 1938. When he reached a mature age, he joined the Gyaltse Palkhor monastery. In the 1950s when the Communist Chinese were making inroads into Tibet with Machiavellian designs Lobsang showed unwavering patriotism for his country and its people. In 1958 Lobsang joined the Dharma Protection Voluntary Army and went to Lhokha region and fought with the invading Chinese forces. In 1959 the Chinese forces arrested him and was taken to Gutsa prison in Lhasa where he was subjected to many beatings and other forms of persecution. After the conclusion of his term in prison he was taken to a labour camp in Gyaltse where he worked under the most difficult conditions for 20 years. In the 1980s there was some leniency in Chinese policy vis-a-vis Tibetans. In 1987 Lobsang went back to his monastery after long years of absence. He was allowed to rejoin his monastery. In 1995 Lobsang printed, and published a prayer book for the young Panchen Lama and distributed it extensively to the public as a result of which he was arrested by the Chinese police on December 18. He was sentenced to a five-year jail term. After his release Lobsang stayed with a relative of his. But his financial condition is not good. He was able to receive a little treatment with the financial support of his relative. Later he stayed with Kelsang, his disciple, which proved difficult because of the poor economic condition of Kelsang. On January 31, 2003 Lobsang, one of the heroes of the Tibetan freedom struggle, breathed his last. The demise of Lobsang palpably demonstrates that the serving and former political prisoners are enduring unspeakable haradship in Tibet on every front. We ask the international community and Tibet Support Groups to share our sorrow and take the responsibility to help our brethren in this hour of need. |
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In 1990 he escaped to India and joined Gaden monastery in southern India. He studied Buddhist philosophy for three years. In 1994 he returned to Tibet and rejoined his old monastery to pursue further studies. From 1998 Nyima, while in the monastery and studying, started writing posters and pasting them on the walls of offices in Tao district. Further, he wrote his name on the posters to show that he carried out the campaign. The Chinese police nabbed another person of the same name but was released. In 2000 Nyima left his native birthplace and headed to Lhasa to escape being arrested by the Chinese police. He hid in a village on the outskirts of Lhasa for a while but he was arrested in Lhasa. He was then taken to Tao district where in October 2000, he was formally charged for being a security threat to the country. He was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. During his imprisonment he was subjected to unspeakable beatings and other forms of persecution and he lost both of his legs and hands. Further, he was chronically ill, so he was released from prison as a face-saving measure. But he died at home. |
Lobsang
Legden : aged 21, from Medro Takphu, a monk of Sera Monastery. He took part
in a demonstration along with 43 other monks from Sera Monastery on October 1,
1987 at the Barkhor in Lhasa. They were arrested and taken inside a police station
compound near Barkor. Outside Tibetans started shouting for the release of the
arrested monks. Inside monks began reciting prayers for H.H.the Dalai Lama and
shouting "Free Tibet". The police fired on the monks and he was shot on the right
side of the head and killed instantly. His family had to pay 600 yuan ($75) to
be allowed to take the body home.
Karsel
: aged 20, from Medro Lobsang, a student of Nechung Monastery. He was shot
dead by the Chinese armed forces while participating in a peaceful demonstration
with some monks from Sera Monastery in the Bharkor area on October 1,1987.
73, from Amdo Shogchung, a monk of Sandue Dakar Monastery. At the time of the
1959 uprising in Lhasa, he was considered one of the region's most important religious
leaders. He was imprisoned in 1962 and sentenced to 10 years. His health suffered
as a result of numerous "struggle sessions". After completing his sentence, he
was sent to a labor camp for another 10 years. On December. 3, 1981, he was re-arrested
for having written a book entitled " A History of Tibetan Independence" and sentenced
to three-and-a-half years. During his detention, he also produced 16 points proving
Tibet's independent status and was sentenced to death. Later his sentence was
reduced to 18 years due to intervention from the Dalai Lama. His hands and legs
were frequently manacled during harsh torture. Early in 1987, he reportedly lost
his sight as a result of beating and he was not able to use his hands any longer.
Died on November 7, 1987 in Drapchi Prison.
Gonpo
Sonam: aged 61, from Gyantse Labrang in Shigatse, a scholar of Tibetan language
and culture. In 1959, he fought against the Chinese and was arrested in 1960 and
imprisoned for two years. In 1966, during the Cultural Revolution he was re-arrested
and spent 16 years in prison and labor camp. He was arrested for a third time
on September 30, 1983 and imprisoned in Drapchi Prison. He suffered badly from
torture and developed epilepsy. In 1985 he was released for medical reasons. Despite
treatment, his health deteriorated. Died on December 23, 1987.
Gonpo
Paljor: 
Lobsang
Sonam: aged 29, from Je-bumgang in Lhasa, a worker at the Tibetan Shin Ha
Printing press. He was shot in the back by Chinese troops while taking part in
a peaceful demonstration on March 5, 1988. The bullet was lodged in the right
side of his stomach, but when he was taken to Lhasa People's Hospital, he was
denied proper medical treatment because of his participation in the demonstration.
As a result of inadequate treatment, he died on April 5, 1988.
Ngawang
Kunga: aged 27, from Phenpo Lhundrup, a monk of Drepung Monastery. He was
shot in the head and killed while taking part in a peaceful demonstration around
Jhokhang Temple in Lhasa on December 10, 1988.
Tashi
Phuntshok: aged 37, from Lhasa, a driver. He participated in the demonstration
on March 5, 1989 and was shot dead.
Lobsang
Gelek: aged 48, from Kanze in Kham, a business man in Lhasa. He participated
in the demonstration on March 5, 1989 and was shot. Died on March 24, 1898.
Choezed
Tenpa Choephel: aged 66, a gardener at Norbulingka. He was arrested on December
15, 1987 for having been involved in political activities. Died due to torture
on December 1989.
Kelsang
Tsering: aged 29, from Phenpo Lhundup, a monk of Sera Monastery. He took part
in a 1988 demonstration in Lhasa and later on December 10, 1989, led a protest
demonstration which was fired upon by the Chinese troops. He was injured badly
in the shooting. After one month of unsuccessful medical treatment, he passed
away in Lhasa People's Hospital.
aged
19, from Kyire in Lhasa, a student. 
He
was arrested on November 4, 1989 and charged as a member of a "counter revolutionary"
group called the "Snow Lion Youth Organization". He was detained in Gutsa prison
and was sentenced to two years imprisonment and later transferred to Drapchi Prison.
He become extremely sick due to torture and beating and his health deteriorated.
He was refused medical attention on at least three occasions. Died on December
13, 1990.
Lhasa.
She
was arrested for taking part in the March 5, 1988 demonstration. She was detained
by armed Chinese security officials, horrifyingly beaten and ruthlessly tortured,
leaving her with serious injuries. On October 10, 1989 she was convicted of hitting
a Chinese soldier with an iron bar. In prison she was tortured to the breaking
point, then sent to hospital for medical students to practice surgery on her.
No attempt was made to give her proper medical treatment. Died on August 25, 1989.
Dawa
Dondrup: aged 32,from Gyantse. He participated in the demonstration on March
5, 1989 and was arrested. He was sentenced to two years. By the time he was released,
his health condition was critical due to harsh treatment and torture in prison.
Died on November 2, 1992 at home.
[Yanogyi]
lay-name
Mizang]: aged 20, from Taktse, a nun of Michungri Nunnery. Arrested on
February 3. 1992 for her participation in a pro-independence demonstration. Sentenced
to 5 years imprisonment. She was first sent to Gutsa where she was detained for
six months for interrogation and torture. Later she was transferred to Drapchi
Prison, where she was one of several nuns beaten in February 11, 1994 after singing
nationalist songs. She complained of pain in the groin area, but prison guards
refused to pay any attention. Her condition deteriorated and she was not able
to sleep for nine full days and went into a coma. Finally, on the insistence of
her fellow prisoners, she was taken to the hospital where she died six days later,
in May 1994.
Lobsang
Yonten: aged 65, born in Narab village in Gongkar, Lhoka. At an early age
he joined Drepung Monastery in Lhasa and was first arrested in 1959 after which
he served 23 years in prison and labor camp. In 1987 he started a school program
teaching six children who had previously had no educational opportunities. By
1993, the school had over 60 students and he came to be affectionately known as
Tsasur Shang-la (Uncle Tsasur). Arrested in May 1993 for trying to contact a high
level European delegation which visited Lhasa from the 17th to the 22nd of May
1993. During his incommunicado detention by the Chinese police, he was subjected
to constant physical torture which resulted in his health breakdown. Died on October
30, 1994.
Sherap
Ngawang: aged 18, from Medro Gongkar, a nun of Michungri Nunnery. She participated
in a demonstration in Lhasa with four other nuns of Michungri Nunnery and one
monk from the Sera Monastery on February 3, 1992. She was arrested and sentenced
to three years. On the night of August10, 1994, she joined in with other nuns
singing freedom songs in Trisam prison. She was subsequently beaten and tortured
with electric prods, tied with rope, handcuffed and put into solitary confinement
for three days. She suffered severe pain and loss of memory. On February 2, 1995,
she completed her term and was put into a hospital. Died on April 17, 1995. She
was considered the youngest prisoner who died as a direct result of Chinese persecution.
Dawa
Tsering: aged 28, from Lhasa. He participated in the March 5,1989 demonstration
and was arrested on March 8, 1989. He was taken to Sangyip prison and detained
until May 1990. During this one year of imprisonment he was repeatedly subjected
to severe torture. His condition became so critical that he could no longer stand
straight. His back was completely bent over. He was admitted by his family to
the regional hospital and remained there until his death 5 years later. Died on
August 19,1995.
Tsenyi:
aged 23, from Lhasa, a worker on the newspaper "The Tibet Daily". She escaped
to India in February 1990, then returned to Tibet to perform religious ceremonies
for her father who had recently died. In 1994 she took part in a demonstration
against increased taxes on merchandise which turned into a freedom protest. She
was arrested and put into Gutsa Prison. Even though she was pregnant, she was
beaten, but she admitted nothing. She was temporarily released but constantly
followed and harassed. Her mind was so much affected that she committed suicide
leaving a child less than one year old.
Phurbu
Tsering: aged 36, from Dranagshol in Lhasa, a worker at a scripture printing
press near Sera Monastery. Participated in the March 1989 demonstration. He was
caught in the Public Security Bureau and beaten by members of the People's Armed
Police with an iron rod and suffered acute head injury. He was hospitalized for
four months after surgery before being taken home. One side of his body became
paralyzed and he started suffering from convulsions. Died on February 7, 1996
without recovering.
Sangye
Tenphel (layname: Gonpo Dorjee): aged 19, from Uma village, a monk
of Khangmar Monastery in Damshung, 162 kilometres north west of Lhasa. He was
arrested in April 1995 for actively expressing his desire for Tibetan independence
in his songs and posters. Detained for 4 months in Gutsa Detention Center and
later transferred to Drapchi Prison. Sangye had been severely beaten with an electric
baton and a cycle pump by two prison officials. His ribs were broken during the
course of his interrogation and he was reportedly suffering brain damage before
his death. Died in custody in May 1996 as a result to harsh treatment and beatings.
Yeshe
Samten: aged 22, from Tsangtok village in Taktse Dechen counry, a monk of
Ganden Monastery. He was arrested on May 6, 1996 with around 90 other monks from
Ganden Monastery. They protested against the removal of all photographs of H.H.
the Dalai Lama by a Chinese work-team. He was sentenced to two years and imprisoned
in Trisam Prison in Toelung county. He completed his prison term and was released
on May 6, 1998. However due to the injuries sustained during torture in prison,
he had to be hospitalized and died six days after his release. Died on May 12,
1998.
Lobsang
Choephel, was born in Dambu Shang in the Damshung area, and was a monk at
the local Kangmar Monastery. On 15 April 1995 he was arrested for taking part
in a pro-independence demonstration in the Lhasa Barkhor area. He was sentenced
to five years imprisonment and sent to Drapchi Prison. On 4 May the prisoners
staged a protest against the raising of the Chinese flag in Drapchi. The protest
was dealt with ruthlessly by PAP officers, nearly all the prisoners being beaten
for hours on end. That afternoon, in protest against the harsh treatment of the
prisoners and the continued colonization of Tibet by the Chinese, Lobsang Choephel
committed suicide by hanging himself. He was twenty-eight years old. 
Drugkyi
Pema, also known as Dekyi Yangzom, was born at Pelshang in Nymo District,
and was a nun at the Nyemo Rangjung Choeten Nunnery.
Lobsang
Wangmo, was born in Phenpo Lhundrup, and was a nun at the Negodong Nunnery
in Dogde on the outskirts of Lhasa. In February 1995 she participated in a peaceful
demonstration in Lhasa and she was arrested and taken to Gutsa Detention Center.
She was sentenced to five years imprisonment and sent to Drapchi. Lobsang Wangmo
was one of the five nuns who died on 7 June1998. She was twenty-five years old.
Ngawang
Tenkyong, was ordained as Lobsang Wangchuk. He was a monk at Ganden
Monasty. After participating in a demonstration he was sentenced to ten years
imprisonment and sent to Drapchi Prison. As punishment for taking part in the
4 May protest, he was beaten mercilessly on 5 May 1988. He was taken to hospital
the following day, but just as the car he was in entered the hospital grounds
he died. He was twenty-eight years old. 
Khedrup,
aged 26, was born in Meldro Gungkar and was a monk at Ganden Monastery. He was
sentenced to five years imprisonment and sent to Drapchi Prison. After the 4 May
protest he was put in solitary confinement and beaten by PAP officers. They tied
him up with his hands tied behind his back and beat him with a metal stick, as
a result of which both his shoulder blades were broken. He received no medical
treatment for any of his injuries, and died, aged twenty-six, on or around 20
May 1998. His parents were called and forced to sign a document saying his son
had committed suicide. They could not get their son's body back.
Penpa
TCHRD also reported the death early last year of Penpa, a
40 year old monk. Penpa died one month after being released from prison on medical
parole. Penpa's health began to deteriorate in prison following intensive beatings.
Despite receiving medical treatment he died shortly after returning home in Tsang
Shalu. Penpa had been serving a 3 year sentence for hoisting a Tibetan flag. TCHRD
22 February 2001.
Lobsang
Dhargyal was born in Chuwa community, Golog, in Macheng district in 1967.
Until he reached the age of 22, he stayed at home herding animals. At 22, he received
admission in Ragya Monastery. During his stay in the monastery from 1987 to 1989,
he heard of the massive protest rallies that were staged in Lhasa. Three of his
friends and he made a large number of posters and pasted them in Golog to inspire
others to launch movements for Tibetan independence. It was decided that on 15
November 1992 Shingsang Rinpoche would 