I think it fair to say that the vast majority of people who strongly support animal rights / welfare also support human rights. For some time SAV has been a member of, and very much supported the work of ‘Free Tibet’, who are based here in old London town, England.
Today we want to share with you some of the work of ‘Free Tibet’ (London) and shine some light on just some of the political prisoners; mostly religious; who have been sentenced in their own land for speaking up and taking action about the Chinese suppression of the wonderful citizens of Tibet.
To find out a lot more and to become a member if you wish, please visit the FT website at http://www.freetibet.org/ – you can see and learn a lot more about campaigns and issues here.
Freedom for the people of Tibet can be compared in some ways to the long and arduous campaigns that we undertake for animals in several places of the world. It will happen one day, Tibet will be free as will there be a stop to much of the animal cruelty we are currently witnessing. You have to live and campaign in hope – as the saying goes; evil flourishes when good people sit back and do nothing.
Please take action for the political prisoners of Tibet. Visit the site at http://www.freetibet.org/ and learn much more about the Chinese domination and silencing of these most peaceful of people.
All of the following is directly repeated from the FT website with the exception that photos of all the prisoners are not included here; but they are shown on the other site.
Please give them your time and support; thank you.
Mark.
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Take action for Tibet’s religious political prisoners
Message Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche
Send a message
Resistance to China’s rule inside Tibet is often led by monks and nuns.
As a result, many of them are now in jail. They may disappear for months, before facing show trials in which they are convicted for “crimes” against the Chinese state.
Many endure torture and long sentences, their illnesses are often untreated and some go years without visits from families and friends.
Send a message to Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche, one of Tibet’s jailed monks
Each month we will feature one of Tibet’s Robed Resisters and provide information about how to take action on their behalf. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. Find out about other actions you can take below.
Prisoner profile: Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche
Name: Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche (also known as Jigme Tenzin Nyima / Bangri Chogtrul Rinpoche)
Age: Born 1966 (49)
Reason for imprisonment: Bangri Rinpoche was convicted of ‘attempting to split the country’ after a partial confession was extracted by torture.
Detained: 1999
Sentence: life sentence, later commuted to 18 years
Location: Chushul prison, Tibet Autonomous Region
About: Bangri Rinpoche and his wife Nyima founded an orphanage for Lhasa’s deprived children in 1996 and were well-respected pillars of the Tibetan community. After his arrest, the orphanage was closed down. In justification for his conviction, authorities claimed he had met the Dalai Lama in India, accepted a foreign donation for the orphanage and had links with a man who had hoisted a Tibetan flag and then attempted to blow himself up. His wife, a former nun, was also imprisoned and released in 2006. Bangri Rinpoche’s “confession” was extracted by torture, whilst being interrogated over for five days and nights.
TAKE ACTION FOR BANGRI TSAMTRUL RINPOCHE:
1. Send a solidarity message
Write a message to Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. Free Tibet will ensure the messages written this month will be delivered to Chushul Prison.
2. Contact the authorities
Send messages in Chinese to the regional governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the governor of Chushul prison to demand humane treatment and freedom for Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche. You can also send a letter in your own language if you prefer.
Regional authorities do not have the power to release convicted prisoners but the Chinese Communist Party and its officials have considerable influence over the legal system. International attention on a prisoner’s case can encourage them to press for early release or a review of the legal case.
While he remains in prison, Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche is endanger of ill treatment. Although Chinese law guarantees certain rights for prisoners, they are rarely given to Tibetans.
Robed Resistance
Monasteries play an important role in Tibetan communities and are vital in preserving and protecting Tibet’s culture and language.
But monasteries also feel the full weight of China’s occupation. Communist officials interfere in their activities and monitor for signs of loyalty to the Dalai Lama. Many have police stations close by or even inside the monastery walls. Thousands of monasteries have been shut by China, while heavily-armed security forces intimidate religious gatherings. Monks and nuns are forced to show their loyalty and even fly the Communist flag on their buildings.
Undeterred, these monks and nuns continue to brave the consequences of their opposition to China’s rule and activist monks have been at the forefront of Tibetan protests for many years. Today, many have paid a heavy price for standing up for their country, their culture and their beliefs.
Here are some of the many currently imprisoned. We will be highlighting different prisoners each month and providing more information about how to take action to help him. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche.
Tsangyang Gyatso
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Tsangyang Gyatso has been charged for “separatist” activities, such as – having contact with people outside Tibet and China and plotting to protest with other monks against the Chinese Communist government.
Detained: 17 March 2014
Sentence: 12 years
Location: Chushul Prison, Tibet Autonomous Region
About: Tsangyang Gyatso is a senior monk and chant leader from Drilda Monastery, Sog County, TAR
Lobsang Gendun
Age: 21
Reason for imprisonment: Official charge is unknown. Lobsang Gendun was arrested for carrying out a solo protest, during which he called for the long life of the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet. The protest took place in Pashoe County during official celebrations marking the anniversary of the Communist Party of China. He has reportedly been tortured and is unable to walk.
Detained: 1 July 2013
Sentence: 10 years Location: To be confirmed
About: Lobsang Gendun is a monk from Drongsar Monastery, Pashoe County, Tibetan Autonomous Region
Tenzin Lhundrup
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Unknown
Detained: May 2014
Sentence: 12 years
Location: To be confirmed
About: Tenzin Lhundrup is a well-respected senior Tibetan monk from Gom Gonsar Monastery in Driru County, TAR. Known for his social service and promotion of Tibetan culture, gave talks and Buddhist teachings, helped to arbitrate local disputes and advocated vegetarianism.
Tsultrim Kalsang
Age: 25
Reason for imprisonment: Tsultrim Kalsang charged with ‘intentional homicide’ (frequently used by Chinese authorities to crackdown on self-immolation protests in Tibet). It is not known why he has received this charge, although it is possibly linked to the self-immolations of Ngawang Norphel and Tenzin Khedup, whose bodies were taken to Tsultrim’s monastery.
Detained: 1 September 2012
Sentence: 10 years
Location: To be confirmed
About: Tsultrim Kalsang is a monk from Zilkar Monastery
Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche
Age: Born 1957 (58)
Reason for imprisonment: Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche is believed to have been detained following a peaceful demonstrations by nuns from Pangrina nunnery, where he is abbot, in order to deter local Tibetans from further protests.
Detained: 18 May 2008
Sentence: 8 years and 6 months
Location: Kardze County, Sichuan Province
About: Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche is the first reincarnate lama to be charged with a serious crime since Tenzin Delek Rinpoche (recently died in prison after serving 13 years of 20 year sentence).
Karma Tsewang
(popularly known as Khenpo (abbot) Kartse (abbreviation of his name))
Age: 38
Reason for imprisonment: Khenpo Kartse is charged with harbouring fugitive Tibetans in his monastery. He is reported to be in very bad health and it is unclear whether he has been given appropriate medical treatment.
Detained: 6 December 2013
Sentence: 2 year and 6 months Location: Powo Tramo Prison, Tibetan Autonomous Region
About: Khenpo Kartse a highly respected senior monk who is well known for his advocacy of the Tibetan language and environment.
Thardhod Gyaltsen
Age: Unknown
Reason for imprisonment: Thardhod Gyaltsen’s charges are unknown but believed to have banned images and teachings of the Dalai Lama.
Detained: December 2013
Sentence: 18 years
Location: Most likely Chushul prison – to be confirmed
About: Thardhod Gyaltsen was well known for promoting Tibetan culture and Buddhism. His father was one of the thousands of Tibetans killed by China during the 1969 Driru County protests.
Yonten Gyatso
Age: 40
Reason for imprisonment: Yonten Gyatso was charged for allegedly sharing information about the self-immolation protest of Tenzin Wangmo. Detained: October 2011
Sentence: 7 years
Location: Prison in Chengdu (to be confirmed)
About: Yonten Gyatso, a senior monk from Khashi Monastery, Ngaba county was part of the Monastic Democratic Management Committee and taught Tibetan language to local primary school children and worked to preserve Tibetan culture and Buddhism.
Lomig (also known as Jo Jamyang)
Age: 27
Reason for imprisonment: Unknown. It is speculated that Lomig was detained for writing articles criticising China’s policies in Tibet.
Detained: 17 April 2015
Sentence: Not yet tried
Location: Unknown
About: Lomig is influential amongst young Tibetans in Ngaba and known for initiating debates and his writings about the situation in Tibet under China’s occupation.
Ngawang Gyaltsen
Age: 41
Reason for imprisonment: Uknown, although local Tibetans believe it to be politically related.
Detained: 24 February 2015
Sentence: Not yet tried, as far as is known
Location: To be confirmed
About: Ngawang Gyaltsen had been a monk at Shag Rongpo Monastery, where he was a well-known artist but disagreements with the Chinese government officials (running a re-education campaign for the monks and nuns) at the monastery led to officials harassing and keeping a heavy surveillance on him, leading him to leave the monastery. Authorities continued to harass Gyaltsen, who was not allowed to travel or meet with friends and family without government authorization.
Tsewang Choephel
Age: 29
Reason for imprisonment: The official reason for his arrest is unknown although local Tibetans believe it could be due to Tsewang Choephel’s presence at the self-immolation protest of fellow monk, Kalsang Yeshi, on 23 December 2014.
Detained: 18 May 2015 Sentence: Not yet tried, as far as is known
Location: Tawu County
About: During the self-immolation protest of Kalsang Yeshi, Tsewang Cauthorities. Since then he has been under constant police surveillance. Tsewang Choephel’s present whereabouts and condition are unknown.
We will be highlighting different prisoners each month and providing more information about how to take action to help him. This month, you can send a solidarity message to jailed Bangri Tsamtrul Rinpoche.
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