Tortured monk released in unstable mental condition
Around fifteen Tibetan monks today defiantly briefed a group of foreign media personnel on a government managed tour currently in Sangchu County (Ch: Xiahe) in Gansu Province.
The monks revealed the grave situation in the area and also delivered a clear cut message to the media group, concerning human rights abuses by the authorities in the area. According to a report by Reuters today (Protesting monks storm media tour in western China, By Lucy Hornby), "They said eight monks were still being held by authorities, but did not specify if they were from Labrang or elsewhere…" TCHRD had earlier received confirmed names of seven monks arrested from Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County, Kanlho "TAP", Gansu, on 1 April 2008. The arrestees are: 1) Gendun Gyatso, 30 yrs, 2) Gyurmey, 40 yrs, 3) Gelek Gyurmey, 30 yrs, 4) Sangay, 30 yrs, 5) Samten, 32 yrs, 6) Yonten, 34yrs, and 7) Thabkhey, 30 yrs.
It is learned that Thabkhey who was released after several days' detention is currently mentally unstable with bruise marks from severe beatings all over his body. It clearly indicates that the monks were brutally tortured in police custody. It is highly probable that the other monks are still in detention and the authorities have released Thabkhey in order to shun responsibility for his current condition. It is regular practice by prison authorities in Chinese administered prisons in Tibet to release Tibetan detainees and prisoners in near death or unstable conditions.
TCHRD calls upon the Chinese authorities to stop torture and inhumane treatment of the peaceful Tibetan protestors who exercised their fundamental human rights of freedom of expression enshrined in the international laws and the constitution of the People's Republic of China.