Amnesty International welcomed the release from prison on 24 February 2004 of
Phuntsog Nyidron, Tibet's longest-serving female political prisoner. However,
the organization stressed that she should not have been imprisoned in the
first place for her peaceful protests, and once again called upon the Chinese
government to release all prisoners of conscience.
"Phuntsog Nyidron is one of several Tibetan prisoners of conscience in
recent years to have been released before serving their full sentence,"
Amnesty International emphasized. "This is extremely encouraging for all
those who have campaigned on her behalf."
Phuntsog Nyidron was due for release in March 2005. The formal reason for
her early release remains unclear, but the Chinese authorities have reportedly
said that it is a "humanitarian gesture". China frequently releases
high-profile prisoners in the run-up to important political and diplomatic
occasions. It is thought that the timing of her release may be connected to
the upcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights as well as the
EU-China human rights dialogue which is currently taking place in Dublin.
"Of course her release is welcomed, but the cynical timing of her
release as China's human rights record comes under international scrutiny is
indicative of China's attitude towards prisoners of conscience," Amnesty
International said.
A nun from Phenpo County in Lhasa, Phuntsog Nyidron was severely beaten on
several occasions during her imprisonment in Lhasa's notorious Drapchi Prison,
and serious concerns remain for her health. Ngawang Sangdrol, another nun
imprisoned around the same time as Phuntsog Nyidron, was released in September
2002 on "medical parole" having suffered similar beatings and
torture in Drapchi. Since her release, Ngawang Sangdrol has lobbied hard on
behalf of Phuntsog Nyidron, helping to keep her case in the public eye.
"The Chinese government must accept responsibility for the health and
welfare of prison inmates in the People's Republic of China," said
Amnesty International. "It is simply astounding that torture and other
forms of ill-treatment are still going on, and that the people responsible are
not even investigated, let alone punished."
Background
Phuntsog Nyidron was one of six nuns who staged a peaceful protest in
central Lhasa in 1989 calling for Tibetan independence. She was initially
sentenced to nine years at a secret trial, but in 1993 her sentence was
increased by eight years on a charge of "spreading counter-revolutionary
propaganda" from her cell, when she and 13 other nuns secretly recorded
songs calling for Tibetan independence. Phuntsog Nyidron is last of these
"singing nuns" to be released.
Phuntsog Nyidron was reportedly severely beaten in May 1998 when she
refused to sing pro-China songs during a flag-raising ceremony in Drapchi.
Several fellow prisoners reportedly died following beatings as a result of the
protests at the flag-raising ceremony. Phuntsog Nyidron's total sentence of 17
years was reduced by one year in 2002 for "showing signs of
repentance".
An estimated 145 Tibetan political prisoners are currently held in Chinese
prisons, with around 70 held in Drapchi.
Source:
News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International
AI Index: ASA 17/010/2004
27 February 2004
