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NEWS
Phuntsog Nyidrol Released from Prison
February 26, 2004
Phuntsog Nyidrol, Tibet's longest serving female
political prisoner, was released today from Drapchi prison (Tibet Autonomous
Region Prison), and is reportedly with her family in Lhasa.
Phuntsog Nyidrol was first arrested in October 1989 for
taking part in peaceful demonstrations in Lhasa and was sentenced to nine years
imprisonment and deprivation of political rights. Her sentence was extended to
17 years when she, along with 13 other nuns, secretly recorded a cassette of
songs praising the Dalai Lama and calling for an independent Tibet, which was
smuggled out of prison and subsequently out of Tibet. In April 2001, the Lhasa
Municipal Intermediate People's Court reduced her sentence by one year for
showing "signs of repentance in recent years" (See TIN News Update 14
June 2002 <http://www.tibetinfo.co.uk/news-updates/2002/1406.htm>).
She was due for release in 2005.
In a report by Associated Press (AP), John Kamm, the
President of the Dui Hua Foundation, who were instrumental in negotiating
Phuntsog Nyidrol's release, said that he believed that her early release today
is linked to recent American pressure, including a resolution (H.Res.157) passed
by the House of Representatives calling on the Chinese government to release all
Tibetan political prisoners. The resolution mentioned Phuntsog Nyidrol's case in
particular. Phuntsog Nyidrol's release coincides with the publication
today of the US Department of State's Country Reports
on Human Rights 2003 for China (including Tibet, Hong Kong and Macau). The 2003
report is markedly more critical of the Chinese authorities than in previous
years, and the section on Tibet also includes Tibetan areas incorporated into
the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Yunnan, Gansu and Sichuan, not just the Tibet
Autonomous Region (TAR).
There have been serious concerns for Phuntsog Nyidrol's
health after she was reported to have been severely beaten during protests at
Drapchi during 1998 (See TIN News Update 14 June 2002 <http://www.tibetinfo.net/news-updates/2002/1406.htm>
and TIN Publication Rukhag 3: The Nuns of Drapchi Prison <http://www.tibetinfo.net/publications/bbp/rukhag_3.htm>).
However, a spokesperson from the Dui Hua Foundation stated that they had
received no information that her release was related to concern for her
health.
Ngawang Sangdrol, also involved in the making of the
cassette in 1993 and released in October 2002, said to TIN today that she was
"very happy" and "couldn't believe" this news of Phuntsog Nyidrol's release. She
also stated, speaking from her own experience as an ex-political prisoner, that
although released from prison, Phuntsog Nyidrol could still expect restrictions
from the Chinese authorities (see TIN Publication Invisible Chains: Life after
Release for Tibetan Political Prisoners <http://www.tibetinfo.net/publications/bbp/invisible-chains.htm>).
See also:
TIN Special Report 06 February 2004:
Current Trends in Tibetan Political
Imprisonment:
Increase in Sichuan; Decline in Qinghai and Gansu
http://www.tibetinfo.co.uk/news-updates/2004/0602.htm
TIN News Update 14 June 2002: New reports on Tibetan
prisoners following May 1998 Drapchi protests
http://www.tibetinfo.co.uk/news-updates/2002/1406.htm
TIN Publication: Rukhag 3: The Nuns of Drapchi Prison
http://www.tibetinfo.co.uk/publications/bbp/rukhag_3.htm
The Tibet Information Network (TIN) is an independent
news and research service that provides information and analysis of the current
political, economic, social, environmental and human rights situation in
Tibet.
This article provided by:
Tibet Information Network
http://www.tibetinfo.co.uk
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