19. Oct 2009
Three monks sentenced in Kardze
(Phayul; VOT) Three monks were sentenced to various prison terms in Chengdu, Sichuan province in April 2009, according to the Voice of Tibet (VOT) radio service, citing a monk from Sera monastery in Southern India. The report said that Tsewang Dakpa, Thupten Gyatso and Gyatso Nima were arrested on 06 June 2008 for protesting in Draggo (Chin: Luhuo) county, Kardze (Chin: Ganzi) TAP. The three monks had shouted anti-China slogans, demanded the release of the Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nima, and accused the Chinese government of subjecting the Tibetan people to fifty years of tyranny. They also demanded that the Chinese government allow the return of the Dalai Lama to the Potala Palace. According to VOT, Tsewang Dakpa received seven years of imprisonment, Thupten Gyatso was sentenced to three years and Gyatso Nima was sentenced to one year.