TCHRD: 5 ‘disappeared’ Tibetans sentenced to varying prison terms

Dharamsala (Hiamchal Pradesh), November 6, 2012: “Months after their arbitrary detention and disappearance, five Tibetan monks from Drango Monastery have been sentenced to varying terms of six to seven years in prison for their alleged involvement in 23 January 2012 protest in Drango (Ch: Luhuo) County of Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province,”said Tsering Tsomo, Executive Director-Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy(TCHRD) on Tuesday at Dharamsala.

She said that confirmed information reveal that Tulku Lobsang Tenzin, 40, a reincarnated lama and Abbot of Gochen Monastery was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Drango Monastery’s teacher Geshe Tsewang Namgyal, 42, and accountant Tashi Thupwang aka Dralha, 31, were sentenced to six years.

The monastery’s shop manager Thinlay was sentenced to five years.

Geshe Tenzin Palsang aka Tenga, senior caretaker of the monastery, was sentenced to six years.

Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, alongwith Geshe Tsewang Namgyal, Dralha and Thinlay were detained from an Internet café in Chengdu in late January. Since then, they had remained disappeared for about ten months until their recent sentencing.

She further said, “Over 36 Tibetans have been sentenced to varying prison terms from life imprisonment to one year and eight months.”