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Action For Tibetan Political Prisoners

 

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Situated in the north eastern outskirts of Lhasa, Drapchi is the largest prison in Tibet, although there are many more – some concealed by titles such as ‘re-education centres’ or ‘reform through labour camps’. Opened in 1965 and built with forced labour it is known in Chinese as Di Yi Jianyu-No 1. Prison. The prison is arranged into a series of nine units and has  recently been expanded and restructured. It has an estimated population of 1000 of which some 600 are thought to be political prisoners ranging  in age from 18 to 85. Most of these are monks and nuns. 

Conditions  inside are harsh with a brutalising regime of forced labour, systematic torture, poor diet, and constant brainwashing programmes. Detailed reports of torture have been well documented by human rights groups including Amnesty International and Asia Watch. Alarming cases of forcible blood and human organ extractions have also been documented by independent monitors (two Chinese nationals were detained by the FBI whilst seeking to trade human organs in the United States).

Yet despite the appalling conditions and suffering endured by Tibetans Drapchi has become an inspiring symbol of resistance and the struggle for independence due to the heroic actions of political prisoners. There have been several demonstrations within the prison. The last major incident took place on 1st May 1998 during which eleven Tibetans lost their lives. Chinese troops opened fire at protesters who refused to take part in a propaganda film being made for a visiting EU delegation, which was due to visit the next day! Other events have brought the plight of inmates to the attention of the outside world, such as the pro-independence songs secretly recorded by Tibetan nuns and smuggled out. A further protest erupted during a visit by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 11th October 1997. Those prisoners involved had their sentence increased by five years and suffered torture and solitary confinement. It is a matter of great shame that the Working Group failed to even mention the incident in their report to the United Nations.

“The People’ s Army Police who guarded us would casually beat and kick us as if  it were nothing”

“In Drapchi she was shocked with an electric baton in the mouth if she was caught reciting Buddhist texts”

“She was suspended from the ceiling with her hands tied behind her back for an hour or more”

Action- Yeshi Choedon

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Former Tibetan Doctor-Yeshi Choedon-Now Political Prisoner

Subscribers of  Tibettruth have been campaigning on behalf of Tibetan political prisoners and such efforts have been welcomed and praised by former inmates, who reported that such actions have brought real encouragement and hope to Tibetans. The campaign has also served a warning to the Chinese authorities that organisations are monitoring the plight of particular prisoners and of general conditions. 

You can help make a real difference by sending our latest appeal:

‘I appeal on behalf of Ms. Yeshi Choedon, a Tibetan political prisoner, who was arrested during March 2008  during the widespread uprisings against China’s occupation of Tibet.  Aged 55  she was sentenced, by the so-called Intermediate People’s Court in Lhasa, to 15 years imprisonment for revealing information to foreign media about the violent suppression of peaceful protests against Chinese occupation. The communist Chinese authorities had previously announced the verdict on November 7, 2008, according to a number of sources Yeshi Choedon has been undergoing forced labour in a prison near Lhasa (more than likely to be Drapchi Prison). Yeshi, a retired Doctor of Tibetan medicine, had  worked at a clinic near Norbulingka before taking retirement few years back, following which she took her residence at Ramoche. She was arrested without valid charges during the peaceful protests by Tibetans in Lhasa in March 2008. Yeshi Choedon has been denied any right to meet her family members since her arrest. I urge your office to investigate and support Yeshi Choedon’s case, and with all urgency, raise her plight with representatives of the communist Chinese authorities.’

 

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To: Ms Barbara Lochbihler,Chair, 
Sub-Committee on Human Rights,
European Parliament   barbara.lochbihler@europarl.europa.eu

Ms Navanethem Pillay  UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: InfoDesk@ohchr.org

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32 Responses to Action For Tibetan Political Prisoners

  1. Pingback: Thank You « Tibettruth
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    dawa tsering

    July 3, 2010 at 8:31 am

    release as soon as possible..

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    lobsang dhargyal

    July 3, 2010 at 11:49 am

    I appeal on behalf of Ms. Yeshi Choedon, a Tibetan political prisoner,and also Tibetan doctor. who was arrested during March 2008 during the widespread uprisings against China’s occupation of Tibet. Aged 55 she was sentenced, by the so-called Intermediate People’s Court in Lhasa, to 15 years imprisonment for revealing information to foreign media about the violent suppression of peaceful protests against Chinese occupation. The communist Chinese authorities had previously announced the verdict on November 7, 2008, according to a number of sources Yeshi Choedon has been undergoing forced labour in a prison near Lhasa (more than likely to be Drapchi Prison). Yeshi, a retired Doctor of Tibetan medicine, had worked at a clinic near Norbulingka before taking retirement few years back, following which she took her residence at Ramoche. She was arrested without valid charges during the peaceful protests by Tibetans in Lhasa in March 2008. Yeshi Choedon has been denied any right to meet her family members since her arrest. I urge your office to investigate and support Yeshi Choedon’s case, and with all urgency, raise her plight with representatives of the communist Chinese authorities.’

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    Jigme Damdul

    July 4, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    TASHI DELEK everyone,
    I, Jigme damdul, speaks on behalf of my mom Mrs. Yeshi Choedon a doctor in Tibet and moreover she is known better as pollitical prisoner would like to beg your support for all the political prisoners in Tibet who are badly being tortured by the red Chinese as you all know.
    As they is saying, “A drop of water makes ocean” a small support from you all makes a big difference. So lets join together and give a moral support. We are in the free world and our brothers and sisters are going through pain for the benefit of our motherland and its people.
    I would like to deeply appreciate for your immense support. thanks you so much and BOD GYAL LO.

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      tibettruth

      July 4, 2010 at 1:30 pm

      Hi Jigme, you are most welcome, Tibettruth is working very hard to publicize your Ama’s case and we are asking both UN and European support too. Kep the fires of hope and freedom burning for Rangzen and all political prisoners in occupied Tibet

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    Jigme Damdul

    July 5, 2010 at 6:23 am

    thanks for support for my mom…
    thanks tibettruth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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      tibettruth

      July 5, 2010 at 11:32 am

      It’s an honor to be able to offer support, be assured that we shall make damn sure that as many people, organizations and the media learn of your mother’s case and her courage and spirit for Tibet

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    kalden

    July 5, 2010 at 10:00 am

    LET US KNW THE REALITY , LETS US PRAY FOR THE BRAVE MRS YESHI CHOEDON..WHO HAS CONTINOUSLY SELFLESSLY CONTRIBUTE HER GENUINE SUPPORT FOR TIBET,,, NOW THIS IS OUR TIME TO PAY BACK,,, LETS US SUPPORT THIS CAUSE AND HELP HER TO GET RELEASE SOON,,, STAND UP MY FRIENDS AND MY FELLOW COUNTRYMEN,, LETS THE TRUTH BECOME VICTORY THIS TIME…. STAND UP EVERY ONE… .. THANK YOU EVERY ONE WHO HAD ALREADY BEEN PART OF THIS CAUSE,,, I REQUEST THOSE WHO HASNT PART OF THIS CAUSE PLEASE OPEN THE SITE AND KEEP SUPPORTING FOR MRS YESHI CHOEDON,, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN ONE N ALL…

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      tibettruth

      July 5, 2010 at 11:38 am

      Well said Kalden

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    dechen

    July 5, 2010 at 10:19 am

    aie i fully support ur mom.lets pray ur mom will release soon .. please every 1 help her to get freedom she is also human beign same like us..

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    tenzin rigden

    July 5, 2010 at 10:41 am

    i really want to do some thing for our brother and sister who had fight for our country. some time i ask my self WHAT I HAVE DONE TO MY COUNTRY? and then i fell shame, angry and disgusting of my self.IS TIBET NOT MY COUNTRY? really, some time i laugh at my self. i know some political’ prisoner’s name. we use to talk about this on 10th may but next day i don’t know about others but mostly i forgot there name and face. but this time its different. about Mrs Yeshi Choedon ii know from my friend coz its lady is her mom. i really cant imagine what he fell right now about her mom. and most of all how is she felling. without seeing her son for many year.i am sorry Mrs Yeshi Choedon. i will always that you can see your son soon. OM MA NE PAY MAY HONG. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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      tibettruth

      July 5, 2010 at 11:37 am

      Understand that feeling, many Tibetans will have sympathy with that sense of frustration. Yet there is much that can be done, keep the fires of Tibet’s Tangzen burning, informing people of the truth, opposing China’s lies, taking a stand, making a difference. There are many online actions here at Tibettruth you may wish to join, and why not start with sending our appeal letter for Yeshi Choedon to the email addresses on this page, it will be very helpful to get UN and European Union support for Yeshi. Never give up until Tibet is again an independent nation.

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    Tenzin Dhondhen

    July 5, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    Hello brothers and sisters,
    “Get up, stand up, stand up for your right”, is a universal song and it has such a deep meaning that one should feel and get the feeling of getting back the human right which everyone deserves and there is no right for anyone to take it from you.
    We as a Tibetan should do something for our motherland which is wrapped by the red fence wire. It might take an hour, or a day, or a week, or a month, or a year, or decades,or thousands of year but we shouldn’t give up and we should pass our rich tradition and the patriotism to our next generation to live our nation alive.
    I deeply feel gratitude and i pray for those who died for our nation and who are still struggling for Tibet specially the political prisoner who are suffering. It is such a hard to get people who sacrifices their life and one such example is Mrs Yeshi Choedon, i really appreciate her and i pray for her long live and hope to see her out of hell prison soon.
    If you clap with one hand it won’t make sound, you need two hand to get sound, so lets stand up together for the cause of Tibet.
    i would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the foreign people who immensely support for the cause of Tibet even they have freedom but they support as their own country. Thank you so much and keep moving.
    BOD GYAL LO.

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    karma thinley Rabjam.

    July 7, 2010 at 7:23 am

    I was very much shocked when I heard Ms Yeshi choedon la was arrested by chiness at the last major incident took place on 2008.
    Now she was sentence for 15 year’s… Oh My God, its to much.
    I was very much respect to her heroic action toword chiness government. And proud to be struggle for independence to our 6 million tibetan people and country.
    My name is karma Thinlay Rabjam. I am friend of her SoN Dawa Tsering. And I remember that she was very much loving and carring mother.
    I was born in India and didn,t see our country, only in books and story from parents. But that wAs not real teast. But she make me feel prout to be tibetan and lucky to have bless under H H The Dalai Lama in exiled.
    I uppeal on behalf of Ms Yeshi Choedon la and other political prisoners. Never give up!! I hope we get more and more people will going to support, release soonest as possible.
    UNO and European union please support us. Wake Up! Wake Up! Now the time come’s door to open the “Truth”.
    Thank you.
    sincerely Thinlay Rabjam.

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    hi ma fan,dont worry lo.

    July 8, 2010 at 8:32 pm

    Hi ma friend,
    Dont worry lo soon ur mom will be release ..i always pray for ur mom wen the time u told about her…….God is there wid us.
    UNO support us from this situation.

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  12. Pingback: Update: Ms Yeshi Choedon-A Tibetan Political Prisoner « Tibettruth
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      datse

      July 20, 2010 at 11:27 am

      thanks very much Tibet Truth , i really appreciating your support towards my mom’s issue. without your support this issue wouldn’t be goes world wide. i really appreciate to everyone who supported my mom’s issue .. thanks very much Tibet Truth.. at last please i beg you to keep on supporting my mom’s issue and all political prisoners case……

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        tibettruth

        July 20, 2010 at 8:19 pm

        Tashi Deleg Datse and thanks for your very kind words of appreciation and encouragement, Tibettruth is honored to campaign in support of your Ama, and shall continue every effort to help, both your Ama and all Tibetan political prisoners.

         
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    Garry Driehuizen

    September 3, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Please release all political prisoners! We live in a free world for all!!! Garry Driehuizen, holland europe.

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      tibettruth

      September 4, 2011 at 12:38 am

      Garry, Thanks for your solidarity

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  14. Pingback: Action For Tibetan Political Prisoners-You can help make a real difference by sending the latest appeal: « Tibet Is Not China
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    Michelle Matsey

    November 5, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    Please examine what is happening within Tibet.
    There seems to be cause for great concern.

    Please review witness testimony and explore human rights abuse claims.

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      tibettruth

      November 5, 2011 at 9:55 pm

      The situation in occupied Tibet concerning the nature and extent of China’s oppression and atrocities is well documented. The disturbing circumstances that prevail has been carefully recorded and continues to carefully monitored and assessed.

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    Lynda Keen

    February 3, 2012 at 10:14 am

    China should release all political prisoners and also give Tibet back its independence.

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      tibettruth

      February 3, 2012 at 1:00 pm

      Thanks Lynda for your solidarity

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