Nobody knows how many political prisoners are being held in Tibet today. Tibetans can be arrested for anything from owning MP3 recordings of the Tibetan national anthem to organising peaceful protests, and many are tortured during their detention. The charges Tibetans face are often vague (such as ‘inciting splittism’ or ‘endangering state security’) and some are charged with crimes unrelated to their arrest, but tortured until they confess. The United Nations condems what it calls China’s ‘widespread’ and ‘routine’ use of torture.
Tibetans protest against Chinese rule in 2008. Over 1,000 arrested are still unaccounted for.
SFT UK highlights the cases of individual prisoners and makes sure their stories are known. We contact governments and other organisations to demand their release and make sure that the Chinese government’s treatment of these brave Tibetans is being watched. It’s difficult to gauge how successful campaigns for political prisoners is because the Chinese state avoids releasing information about prisoners’ cases, but we know there are examples where prisoners have been released, where their sentences have been reduced and where the torture they have suffered has ended at least in part due to campaigning in their names. Above all, Tibetans who resist Chinese rule are not doing so in secret- it’s our duty to keep their cases in the public eye and ensure the Chinese state feels that pressure.
A list of some of Tibet’s political prisoners
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, The Panchen Lama
Age at arrest: 6
Sentence: None
Missing since abduction in 1995
Abducted by Chinese authorities aged just six, he and his family have not been seen or heard from since. Seen as the reincarnation of Tibet’s 2nd highest religious figure, the Chinese state abducted him to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama. Read more & support.
Dhondup Wangchen, film maker
Sentence: 6 years
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Making a documentary about Tibet
Tortured
Dhondup was arrested after filming interviews with Tibetans, talking about their views on life under Chinese rule. He has been denied medical care when ill and forced to do hard labour. Read more & support.
Norzin Wangmo, cadre
Sentence: 5 years
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Talking about Tibet on phone & email
Tortured
Protests errupted around Tibet in March 2008. Norzin talked about what she saw with friends and was arrested. She has been tortured and denied the right to see her young son. Read more & support.
SENTENCE REDUCED BY 8 MONTHS IN 2011
Karma Samdrup, environmentalist
Sentence: 15 years
Arrested in: 2010
Detained for: Complaining about brothers’ arrests
Tortured
Award winning environmentalist Karma was popular with the Chinese state until he spoke out when his brothers Rinchen and Chime were arrested for criticising the poaching of endangered wildlife. Karma was tortured to extract a confession to dubious charges relating to antiques dealing. Read more & support.
Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, Buddhist monk
Sentence: Death (reduced to life imprisonment)
Arrested in: 2002
Detained for: Human rights & environment work
Tortured
One of the most influential religious and community leaders in Tibet, TDR was charged with being involved in a bomb plot in an attempt to counteract his influence- no evidence has been produced. His co-accused Lobsang Dhondup was executed in 2002. Read more & support.
SENTENCE REDUCED AFTER CAMPAIGNS IN 2005
Phurbu Rinpoche, Buddhist monk
Sentence: 8 1/2 years
Arrested in: 2009
Detained for: Peaceful protests occuring at his nunnery
Tortured
52-year-old Phurbu is a respected community figure who was tortured to obtain a confession after being framed for possessing illegal wepeons. It is thought the real reason is retaliation for the nunnery he runs staging peaceful protests. Read more & support.
Penkyi
Sentence: Death
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Allegedly setting fire to a building during a protest
21-year-old Penkyi is awaiting execution after being convicted of starting a fatal fire. She was denied legal representation and no evidence has emerged from the trial. It is thought her sentence will be commuted to life, but two others on similar charges in 2009 have been executed.
Wangdu, NGO health worker
Sentence: Life imprisonment
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Sending email
Wangdu worked promotong AIDS awareness in Tibet, and emailed friends outside to tell them about military crackdowns he witnessed in 2008. Three others received 8-14 year sentences on similar charges but Wangdu’s is thought the longest for such an insignificant ‘crime’.
Paljor Norbu, printer
Sentence: 7 years
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Printing Tibetan flags
81-year-old Paljor was denied legal representation in a closed trial, and his family were not told of his arrest. His age and frail condition coupled with the abuse that takes place in Chinese jails has made his family fearful for his survival.
Runggye Adak, nomad
Sentence: 8 years
Arrested in: 2007
Detained for: Calling for the return of the Dalai Lama
53-year-old Runggye picked up a microphone at a Horse Festival and said to the crowd ‘although we are free to move our bodies, we cannot express what is in our hearts’. He and extended family members were rounded up and sentenced to varying terms.
Jigme Gyatso, Buddhist monk
Arrested for: Recording a YouTube video testimony
Arrested in: 2008
Re-arrested in: 2011
Tortured
Lama Jigme was first arrested and tortured for unknown reasons, but was re-arrested for posting a YouTube video where he talked about his torture. It is thought he was treated better after his re-arrest due to his case being made public, but he was detained again in 2011.
Tabe, Buddhist monk
Sentence: Unknown
Arrested in: 2009
Detained for: Setting himself alight as a means of protest
Missing
A Kirti monastery monk in his 20s, Tabe took the dramatic step of setting himself alight to draw attention to the situation in Tibet. He was shot, apparently in the legs, then the flames extinguished before being bundled away.
Lobsang Tenzin, student
Sentence: Death (reduced to life imprisonment)
Arrested in: 1998
Detained for: Taking part in a freedom protest
Tortured
Apparently framed for causing the death of a policeman during a protest, international pressure led to China backing down on this sentence and agreeing to release him in 2012. Lobsang has continued to stand up for Tibetan rights and protect inmates while imprisoned.
Rinchen Samdrup, environmentalist
Sentence: 5 years
Arrested in: 2010
Detained for: Criticising officials for poaching wildlife
Probably tortured
A respected conservationist, Richen was arrested for trying to protect endangered species; it was also cited that pro Dalai Lama messages had been found on his website. His brother Karma was sentenced for speaking up against his arrest.
Chime Namgyal, environmentalist
Sentence: 21 months
Arrested in: 2010
Detained for: Criticising officials for poaching wildlife
Tortured
Brother of Karma and Rinchen, Chime was charged with failing to register his environmental agency properly. As he is disabled and has been severely tortured, relatives are concerned for his wellbeing, even if he is released in 2012 as planned.
Kunchok Tsephel, teacher and writer
Sentence: 15 years
Arrested in: 2009
Detained for: Setting up a cultural website
Tortured
Academic and teacher Kunchok is a pillar of the community and founded a site about Tibetan culture. He was missing for almost a year after it transpired he had been arrested and tortured and his site, like many in Tibet and China, shut down.
Dorje Tashi, businessman
Sentence: Life imprisonment
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Supporting the Dalai Lama
Millionaire businessman Dorje was popular with the Chinese state and was a member of the Communist Party until his arrest. It seems that he had made a substantial donation to a charity supporting the Dalai Lama.
Chime Lhamo
Sentence: 10 years
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Protesting
Sentenced for her alleged role in protests in Tibet in 2008, 22-year-old Chime was one of a series of Tibetans who received long sentences, some sentenced to death, after unfair trials in which legal representation was denied and the courts meeting in secret.
Penkyi of Nyemo
Sentence: Life imprisonment
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Protesting
Also sentenced for her alleged role in protests in Tibet in 2008, alongside Chime Lhamo and Penkyi of Sakya, she was one of a series of Tibetans who received long sentences, some sentenced to death, after unfair trials.
Kungtsuk
Sentence: Death (commuted to life imprisonment)
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Protesting
Sentenced to death after an unfair trial, Kungtsuk’s suspended death sentence is thought to be commuted to life in prison. Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak, sentenced at around the same time, were executed in 2009.
Lobsang Wangchuk, Buddhist monk
Sentence: 15 years
Arrested in: 2008
Detained for: Protesting
One of three Taktse county protesters who were convicted in 2009 to varying terms, serious concerns have been raised about torture and the trial being conducted outside international legal guidelines. Aside from those jailed after peaceful protests in 2008, some 1,000 are still missing.
Some released prisoners
Palden Gyatso, Buddhist monk
Served: 33 years imprisonment
Arrested for: Peaceful protest
Arrested in: 1959
Released in: 1992
Tortured
Tibet’s longest serving prisoner, Palden took part in peaceful protests in 1959 and refused to implicate others when arrested. He suffered horrendous torture over 33 years and smuggled torture wepeons out of jail. He now travels the world exposing torture in Tibet.
Ngawang Sangdrol, Former Buddhist nun
Served: 12 years imprisonment
Arrested for: Peaceful protest
Arrested in: 1990/1992
Released in: 2002
Tortured
First arrested and tortured aged just 13 after staging a peaceful protest, she was tortured throughout her years in jail, and her sentence was extended after she and the other ‘Drapchi nuns’ recorded songs about freedom in jail. She now travels, advocating Tibetan freedom.
Phuntsog Nyidrol, Former Buddhist nun
Served: 15 years imprisonment
Arrested for: Peaceful protest
Arrested in: 1989
Released in: 2006
Tortured
One of the surviving 14 ‘Drapchi nuns’, Phuntsog was arrested after a peaceful protest when she was 19 years old. She was also tortured for many years and had her sentence extended for recording songs. She still travels, advocating for Tibetan freedom.
Palden Choedron, Former Buddhist nun
Served: 15 years imprisonment
Arrested for: Peaceful protest/ trying to escape Tibet
Arrested in: 1990/1998
Released in: 1998/2010
Tortured
One of the surviving 14 ‘Drapchi nuns’, Palden was arrested when she was 17 years old and had her sentence extended for recording songs. She was re-arrested for trying to leave Tibet in 1998 and served another 3 years before escaping successfully in 2010.
Ngawang Choephel, singer
Arrested for: Celebrating Tibetan music and dance
Arrested in: 1995
Sentenced to: 18 years
Released in: 2002
Ngawang is a scholar of Tibetan culture who received a harsh sentence when he returned to Tibet to study music and dance. International pressure helped secure his early release and he is now a film maker who focuses on Tibetan music and culture.
Tashi Dhondup, singer
Arrested for: Recording songs about freedom
Arrested in: 2009
Sentenced to: 15 months
Released in: 2011
A popular singer in Tibet, Tashi’s album was seen as ‘subversive’ by the Chinese state, and he was arrested at gunpoint. His case shows how the younger generation of Tibetans are using music and the arts to demand freedom.
Jamyang Kyi, Feminist writer & singer
Arrested for: Sending texts about crackdowns in Tibet
Arrested in: 2009
Sentenced to: House arrest
Tortured
A TV celebrity in Tibet, Jamyang is a long term rights advocate who was detained and tortured for talking about violence against Tibetans in 2008. When she was released, she testified about the torture she suffered, and she is still kept under close watch.
Golog Jigme, monk & film maker
Arrested for: Helping make a documentary
Arrested in: 2008
Released in: 2009
Tortured
Assistant to Dhondup Wangchen on his film ‘Leaving Fear Behind’, Jigme said the torture he suffered ended when campaigning for him began, showing the importance of making cases like these known.
Shogdung, writer & poet
Arrested for: His literature, and for criticising how earthquake donations were used
Arrested & released in: 2010
Shogdung and other writers and artists took part in a letter-writing campaign against the corrupt use of monies donated to help victims of an earthquake in Tibet in 2010. As a public figure, there was pressure to secure his release.
Some other prisoners who SFT UK supports
Ai Weiwei, Chinese artist
Arrested for: His stance on rights in China
Arrested/released in: 2011
Internationally renowned artist Ai Weiwei had been imprisoned and assaulted by the Chinese regime before; they are fearful of his popularity among the Chinese people and his views supporting free speech and human rights. After international campaigning he was released on bail in June 2011.Read more & support.
Lui Xiaobo, Chinese activist
Arrested for: Human rights advocacy
Arrested in: 2010
Sentenced to: 15 years imprisonment
Lui Xiaobo is one of the world’s leading human rights advocates, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. Despite international respect, the Chinese regime has imprisoned him, fearing that his views on human rights and freedoms will turn the Chinese people against the oppressive regime.
Aung Sang Su Kyi, Burmese democracy leader
Arrested for: Winning a landslide general election victory
Released in: 2010
Democracy leader and Nobel Prize winner Aung Sang Suu Kyi was finally released from many years under house arrest in 2010 as a precursor to the military regime’s sham ‘election’. Her peaceful struggle for Burma continues, and like other Nobel winners Liu Xiaobo, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, she is an inspiration to the cause.
Read more about the other nations and people affected by the Chinese regime and how SFT UK is networking with them.
Read more about actions you can take on the Free Tibetan Heroes website.
You can help SFT UK campaign for political prisoners by writing to your elected representatives about any of these cases or by starting a university chapter or group in your area. For more information, please email us
SFT UK is run by volunteers who use our own resources. You can help us grow by becoming an SFT UK Guardian for a political prisoner of your choice and help us campaign not just now but all year, every year until Tibet is free.
