Tashi (religious name Lhundup Khalden), aged 25, originates from Meldro Gongkar County and was a monk at Gaden Monastery. He was arrested by the Chinese army on 5 March 1988 for participating in a protest during the Lhasa Monlam Chenmo, where he called for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He was detained at Gutsa Prison, where he was stripped of his clothing and subjected to severe torture. During detention, he endured more than 30 violent interrogations, each involving physical abuse.

On 6 March 1989, he was convicted of “counter-revolutionary activities” and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at Drapchi Prison, along with the deprivation of political rights for one year. In prison, political detainees were subjected to forced labour and inhuman treatment. In 1989, fellow prisoners Dawa, Migmar Tashi, and Dhondup Tashi planned a prison uprising and sought assistance from Lobsang Tenzin and Tashi. After the plan was discovered, all five were chained, tortured, and placed in solitary confinement for one month beginning 3 August 1989.

On 17 May 1990, the Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court convicted them again of counter-revolutionary activities. Dawa, Dhondup Tsering, and Migmar Tashi were sentenced to death, while Lobsang Tenzin, already under a death sentence, remained condemned. Tashi’s sentence was extended by nine years, increasing his total imprisonment to twelve years.