Tibetan Nuns Jailed, Detained
Radio Free Assia (RFA)
May 12, 2008
Nearly two months after widespread Tibetan protests against Chinese rule, authorities in a heavily Tibetan area of Sichuan province have handed down jail terms to seven nuns for joining the demonstrations -- and 14 more nuns are taken into custody for staging new protests.
Sunday May 11, 2008, Nepalese police detained more than 600 female Tibetan protesters, including many Buddhist nuns, after breaking up several demonstrations in Nepal's capital against China's recent crackdown in Tibet.
KATHMANDU--Authorities in China's southwestern Sichuan province have detained 14 nuns for protesting despite a massive security presence and handed jail terms to seven others for joining widespread demonstrations in March, Tibetan sources say.
The 14 nuns from nunneries in Kardze [in Chinese, Ganzi] demonstrated May 11-12 in a central area of Kardze, near the local television station, witnesses said.
They were protesting the detention of two nuns from Drakar nunnery: Bumo Lhaga, 32, and Sonam Dekyi, 30, who were detained April 23 for calling for the return of Tibet's exiled leader, the Dalai Lama.
Sources identified the 14 nuns as Sey Lhamo, 36; Thubten Drolma, 40; Ani Taga, 36; Lhawang Chokyi, 41; Yangkyi, 28; Gyayul Seyang; Gyayul Thinley; Gyayul Shachotso Bodze; Tamdin Tsekyi; Seshuktin Tamdin Tsekyi; Seshuktin Dekyi, 29; Bendetsang Yangchen; and two others whose names weren't immediately available.
"They protested in support of those two nuns who protested April 23 and were detained. These nuns shouted for the independence of Tibet, and for the long life and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama," one source said. "They protested right at the center of Kardze town, close to the local TV station."
"Chinese security forces rounded them up and beat them. They severely assaulted one of the nuns, Taga, by striking her head against the pavement. She was bleeding profusely. Bloodstains were found on the pavement where the nuns were detained and beaten up."
Tensions remain high in Kardze, sources said, with armed security forces and paramilitary People's Armed Police still on patrol, nearly two months after a widespread uprising against Chinese rule in heavily Tibetan areas of China.
Sources said all 14 nuns are believed to be held at Kardze prison.
JAIL TERMS HANDED DOWN
Other Tibetan sources meanwhile said seven nuns and one layperson were sentenced to prison April 29 for protesting in Chori, Draggo [in Chinese, Luhuo] county, Kardze, in March.
Of some 200 people taken into custody in Kardze beginning March 24, the sources said, 20 remain in detention. "Among those detained, 93 were nuns and the rest were monks and laypersons," one source said.
On April 29, the source said, authorities announced the sentencing of four nuns to seven-year jail terms: Khandro Lhamo, 32; Khagongtsang Choedron, 43; Drolma Yangtso, 23; and Wangmo, 29.
Three other nuns were sentenced to three-year jail terms: Yibu, 22; Drolyang, 42; and Sonam Choedron, 28. Kalsang Dorje, a layperson, 39, was handed a three-year term, the sources said.
An official at the Luhuo county People's Court declined to discuss the trials. Asked if trials had occurred, he replied, "I don't know" You just don't ask questions about the trial."
CRACKDOWN AFTER PROTESTS
Chinese authorities have made numerous arrests and launched a "patriotic education" campaign aimed at Tibetans in the wake of rioting that began in Lhasa in mid-March and then spread to other Tibetan areas.
Beijing says 22 people were killed in the rioting. Tibetan sources say scores of people were killed when Chinese paramilitary and police opened fire on crowds of demonstrators.
Chinese authorities have blamed the Dalai Lama for instigating the protests and fomenting a Tibetan independence movement. The Dalai Lama rejects the accusation, saying he wants only autonomy and human rights for Tibetans.
Original reporting by RFA's Mandarin and Tibetan services. Mandarin service director: Jennifer Chou. Tibetan service director: Jigme Ngapo. Translated by Jia Yuan and Karma Dorjee. Written and produced in English by Sarah Jackson-Han.
China detains Drakar and Gaden Choeling Nuns in Kardze
TCHRD
May 18, 2008 10:02]
In aftermath of the series of pro-Tibet protests in many parts of Tibet since 10 March 2008, the Chinese government has stepped up unprecedented "Patriotic re-education" campaign in an attempt to counter the growing voices of dissidence in the Tibetan society. The "Patriotic re-education" campaign was originally launched to "stem out" Tibetan nationalism in Tibet's religious institutions. However, in recent years it was conducted in secular Tibetan society such as schools and communities.
Since 10 March 2008, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has documented hundreds of Tibetans arrested in connection with the "Patriotic re-education" campaign. In many of Tibet's monasteries and nunneries, the Chinese government has stepped up the "Patriotic re-education", which requires the monks and nuns to criticize and denounce the Dalai Lama.
The campaign has stirred so much of angst and resentment within the Tibetan people at large where those monks and nuns who denounce the Dalai Lama and sign off the official document are allow to stay in monasteries and nunneries while those who refuses to obey the order either face expulsion from their monasteries and nunneries or face imprisonment.
TCHRD has learnt about sporadic cases of the "Patriotic re-education" campaign conducting in Kardze County,"TAP" in recent times.
In one of such incidents, twelve nuns of Drakar Nunnery were arrested for protesting against the Chinese authorities in Kardze, according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
On 11 May 2008, two Drakar nuns were arrested after they protested against the Chinese authorities in Kardze County, (Ch: Ganzi) Kardze "TAP", Sichuan Province. The nuns called for "religious freedom", vent their anger against the "Patriotic re-education" campaign and the denunciation of the Dalai Lama. The nuns Sonam Lhamo and Thupten Dolma were arrested by the Chinese security forces.
A day later on 12 May 2008, a group of nuns again protested against the Chinese authorities in the afternoon in Kardze County. During the protest, 10 Drakar nuns were arrested by the Chinese security forces.
The names of the arrestees were:
Tashi Gha
Thinely
Sonam Yangzom
Tamdin Choekyi
Yangkyi
Lhamo Choekyi
Jampa Lhamo
Dickyi
Nyima
Bhuti
On 14 May 2008, scores of nuns of Ganden Choeling protested against the Chinese authorities in Kardze County, according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
The protest took place around 9 AM (Beijing Standard Time) when few nuns of Kardze Ganden Choeling Nunnery protested against the Chinese authorities in Kardze County, (Ch: Ganzi) Kardze "TAP", Sichuan Province.
The nuns protested and marched towards Kardze County government headquarters which lay on the other side of a bridge. When they were about to cross the Kardze bridge, about 300 personnel of Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People's Armed Police (PAP) came to the protest scene and blocked the agitated nuns from crossing the bridge and heading towards the County government headquarters to protest.
Incidentally, three nuns were able to breached the security blanket and reached the County government headquarters, where they protested and shouted slogans. Within minutes, they were arrested, beaten severely by the security forces. The names of the three arrested nuns were Dorjee Khando, Takdon and Pema Lhamo.
Meanwhile there has been no information about the whereabouts and conditions of those remaining nuns blocked at the bridge by Chinese security forces.
The Centre expresses its grave concern over the fate of nuns who were arrested. Torture is a regular exercise in many of detention centres in China. The Centre also calls upon the Chinese government to respect the fundamental rights of the arrested nuns and in no case they should be subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The Centre urges to the Chinese leaders to immediately release the detained nuns.