Tibetan Heroes
The Tibetan Heroes featured here represent a tiny fraction of Tibetans imprisoned for political reasons, and whose actions illustrate the wishes and aspirations of countless Tibetans living under Chinese rule.
In their 2012 annual report, human rights organization Dui Hua estimates that more than a quarter of the 5,000 “active” political prisoners held in Chinese prisons are Tibetan activists, many of which were originally charged with ‘crimes’ related to creative activity such as writing song lyrics, poems, and essays.
In August 2011, the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy estimated there are at least 850 known Tibetan political prisoners and numerous more who are “missing”.
The “crimes” they have been detained for range from simply sending text messages about the situation in Tibet to documenting the desires of Tibetans in Tibet for freedom. The common thread is that these individuals have risked their own freedom to advocate for the rights of their people and to resist China’s occupation of Tibet.
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
Summary: Highly respected community leader and advocate of Tibetan identity and culture.
Charge: Inciting “splittism”.
Sentence: Life, commuted to 20 years.
Prison: Chuandong Prison, Sichuan Province.
Status: Known to be in ill health and in need of medical assistance.
Jigme Gyatso/Golog Jigme
Summary: Tibetan monk who helped Dhondup Wangchen film ‘Leaving Fear Behind’
Charge: Alleged murder charges
Sentence: Warrant for his arrest has been issued; facing a possible death sentence.
Prison: Whereabouts unknown
Status: Well being unknown
Tibetan Resistance Writers
Summary: A new generation of Tibetans is being targeted in a drive against Tibetan culture.
Charges: “Suspicion of Inciting Separatism”.
Sentences: Between four and ten years.
Prisons: Unknown.
Status: Many of these individuals were detained in secret and their current status is unknown.
Runggye Adak
Summary: In 2007 Runggye Adak publicly called for the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet.
Charge: “Provocation to subvert state power”.
Sentence: Eight years.
Prison: Mianyang Prison, Sichuan Province.
Status: Known to be in ill health and in need of medical assistance.
Lobsang Tenzin
Summary: Arrested in 1988 for protesting, he has now spent over half of his life in prison. Charge: “Principal culprit” in murder charge.
Sentence: Death; commuted to 20 years.
Prison: Qushui Prison, TAR.
Status: Continued to show outstanding courage in prison. Due for release in 2013.
Dhondup Wangchen
Summary: Tibetan film-maker who recorded Tibetans talking about the situation in Tibet. Charge: “Subversion of State Power”.
Sentence: Six years.
Prison: Xichuan Prison, Qinghai Province.
Status: Contracted Hepatitis B and is in need of medical assistance.
Jigme Guri (Labrang Jigme)
Summary: A senior monk who recorded a video statement about his arrest and torture.
Charge: Unknown.
Sentence: Not tried.
Prison: Unknown.
Status: Detained on 20 August 2011, his current whereabouts are unknown.
Paljor Norbu
Summary: An 84-year old master printer of Buddhist texts from Lhasa.
Charge: Suspicion of “Inciting Separatism”.
Sentence: Seven years.
Prison: Unknown.
Status: There has been no news of Paljor Norbu since his sentence in 2008.
Norzin Wangmo
Summary: Arrested for using email and phone to pass information about the situation in Tibet.
Charge: “Engaged in splittist activities”.
Sentence: Five years.
Prison: Binjiang Prison, Sichuan.
Status: Is known to have been in ill health and to have been tortured.
Bangri Chongtrul Rinpoche
Summary: Well respected community leader arrested to undermine his growing influence.
Charge: “Attempting to split the country”.
Sentence: Life; commuted to 18 years.
Prison: Qushui Prison, TAR.
Status: Accused of conspiring to ‘plot’ to carry out the protests and having links with ‘splittists’.
