Tibetan Information Office (TIO) is based in Canberra.

Update on Tibet Demonstrations, 2 July 2008

No Specific Date: Taktse (Ch: Dazi) County, Lhasa Municipality – One more died from torture in prison

Ngawang Palsang (aka Lama of Lo monastery), a former monk of Lo monastery in Taktse county and born there, was arrested in this March by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) of Lhasa City.

In 1993, he was imprisoned and tortured for six years in Drapchi Prison for his involvement in political activities. Since his release, he has been studying Tibetan medicine and astrology in Lhasa.

This May, he died from heart attack caused by horrible torture he suffered in prison. His body was handed over to his family. Detailed information is not available. (With this, death toll stands at 211)

Taktse (Ch: Dazi) County, Lhasa Municipality – A prisoner released in deteriorated health condition

Passang (or Tenzin Namgyal), a monk from Phagmo monastery in Taktse monastery, was released in a deteriorated health condition recently. He was arrested this March by the PSB of Lhasa City, and severely tortured in prison.

After his release, he and his members of family were warned about harsh punishment against disclosing any information or photo on torture.

He was imprisoned in August 1993 and tortured for six years in Drapchi Prison for his involvement in political activities.

Lhasa – A monk from Drepung monastery severely beaten during interrogation

A monk from Drepung monastery in Lhasa was released recently after being severely beaten during interrogation. He was arrested in this March by the PSB of Lhasa City.

He was imprisoned in Drapchi Prison for over 13 years from 1991 to 2004 for his involvement in political activities. While in Drapchi Prison, he had sustained severe injury when the prisoners staged a peaceful protest in 1998.

Following the March protests in Lhasa, most of the former political prisoners were arrested. Some of them were released. But, whereabouts of some of those, who are being detained, are unknown.