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[ back ] DRAPCHI NUNS Tibetan nun and political prisoner Ngawang Choezom released TIBET INFORMATION NETWORK - 188-196 Old Street LONDON EC1V 9FR UK TIN UK - ph: +44 (0)20 7814 9011 fax: +44 (0)20 7814 9015 email: tin@tibetinfo.net TIN USA - ph:+1 (0)307 733 4670 fax: +1 (0)307 739-2501 email: tinusa@wyoming.com Web site: http://www.tibetinfo.net TIN News Update / 26 June 2002 / no. of pages: 2 ISSN: 1355-3313 Tibetan nun and political prisoner, Ngawang Choezom, has been released from Drapchi prison nine months before completing her sentence. Ngawang Choezom was one of the 14 nuns who received sentence extensions for making a tape recording of songs in prison in June 1993. Following the May 1998 protests in Drapchi prison, she was one of the nuns singled out for particularly harsh punishment. Her release last Friday, 21 June, follows news earlier this year of the release of three of the other "singing nuns of Drapchi prison", Gyaltsen Drolkar, Ngawang Choekyi and Tenzin Thubten. (see TIN News Update 20 February 1994 Nun's Sentence Increased to 17 Years for Singing Song) http://www.tibetinfo.net/news-updates/nu200294.htm Ngawang Choezom, also known as Pasang Lhamo (lay name) and Awang Quzong (Chinese), a nun from Chubsang Nunnery in Toelung Dechen County about 50 kilometres west of Lhasa, was detained on 21 March 1992 at the age of 22 for participating in a demonstration. On 4 September of the same year she was sentenced by the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People's Court to five years imprisonment for "engaging in subversive activities". She was originally incarcerated at the Gutsa Public Security Bureau (PSB) detention centre in Lhasa but was then transferred to Drapchi prison (Tibet Autonomous Region Prison Number One) also in Lhasa. In June 1993 Ngawang Choezom together with several other nuns held in Drapchi Prison secretly recorded an audio cassette on which they sang songs referring in poetic metaphors to freedom, independence and the sadness at having lost Tibet to China. Each nun added her own contribution. When the prison authorities discovered what they had done after the tape had been smuggled out of prison, all nuns who had participated were severely punished, and their sentences, which ranged from three to seven years, were increased by five to nine years. Ngawang Choezom's sentence was increased from five to eleven years. (see TIN News Update 20 February 1994) http://www.tibetinfo.net/news-updates/nu200294.htm She was therefore due for release on 21 March 2003. After the protests of May 1998 in Drapchi Prison (see TIN News Updates of 15 December 1999 and 14 June 2002) http://www.tibetinfo.net/news-updates/nu151299.htm http://www.tibetinfo.net/news-updates/2002/1406.htm Ngawang Choezom was severely beaten during interrogations and then placed under lockdown conditions or in solitary confinement for extended periods of time. She and Ngawang Sangdrol are reported to have been punished particularly severely. Like other nuns accused of involvement in the protests, Ngawang Choezom was not allowed to receive visitors after May 1998. Ngawang Choezom's release was confirmed by Chinese authorities, but with no official explanation, it is assumed she was released either on medical parole, or that she had earlier showed signs of "repentance" and received a sentence reduction. Ngawang Choezom is one of a number of high-profile Tibetan political prisoners who have recently been released before the end of their sentences. -end- Details of Tibetan political prisoners in TIN publications "Rukhag 3: The Nuns of Drapchi Prison" http://www.tibetinfo.net/publications/bbp/rukhag_3.htm "Hostile Elements" http://www.tibetinfo.net/publications/bbp/Hostile.htm and "Suppressing Dissent" http://www.tibetinfo.net/publications/bbp/suppressing-dissent.htm and "In the Interests of the State" A selection of further TIN reports on Prisoners and Protest http://www.tibetinfo.net/reports/trprison.htm and Women http://www.tibetinfo.net/reports/trwomen.htm Details of life after release for Tibetan political prisoners in TIN Publication "Invisible chains" http://www.tibetinfo.net/publications/bbp/invisible-chains.htm Images
of women http://www.tibetinfo.net/tibet-file/women.htm
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photo | tibetan nuns and former political prisoners passang lhamo & chuye kunsang
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