Norbu Phuntsok, born in 1973, was a monk at Jang Taglung Monastery at the time of his arrest in 1995. He is serving a total sentence of eight years’ imprisonment for his involvement in peaceful demonstrations calling for Tibet’s right to self-determination.

On 23 February 1995, Norbu Phuntsok and three other monks from the same monastery—Tenzin Jamyang (born 1971), Tsewang (born 1980), and Sang Sang (born 1973)—chanted slogans during a peaceful pro-independence demonstration in the Barkhor district of Lhasa City. The demonstration lasted several minutes before all four monks were arrested by Public Security Bureau officials and taken to Gutsa Detention Centre for interrogation.

After being held for more than seven months in Gutsa, the four monks were formally sentenced and transferred to Drapchi Prison. Each received a sentence of five years’ imprisonment. While incarcerated in Drapchi Prison, Norbu Phuntsok took part in the prison protests on 1 May and 4 May 1998. As a result of his participation, his sentence was extended by an additional three years, bringing his total term of imprisonment to eight years.