Yeshi Samten (lay name Bagdo) was a 19-year-old monk at Gaden Monastery, originally from a nomadic family in Meldro Gongkar. On 5 March 1988, he participated in a protest during the Lhasa Monlam Chenmo. As authorities began arresting demonstrators, he fled to his hometown. Shortly thereafter, five police officers came to his home and arrested him.

He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at Trowu Prison. After returning to Gaden Monastery, he observed that the Government Work Department had infiltrated the monastery’s administration and begun intimidating monks. New political programs were introduced, and 40 monks were expelled from the monastery. He later escaped to India in April 1991.