Ngawang Chokey, born in 1969, is a nun from Samdrup Drolma Lhakhang Nunnery who is serving a thirteen-year prison sentence. On 14 May 1992, she and five other nuns were arrested for participating in a pro-independence demonstration that had taken place the previous day. The five other nuns—Ngawang Lochoe (born 1973), Ngawang Tsamdrol (born 1971), Ngawang Nordon (born 1969), Ngawang Phurdron (born 1972), and Ngawang Tendrol (born 1969)—were all from Toelung Dechen County.

Ngawang Chokey was initially sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. The nuns were first held at Gutsa Detention Centre and later transferred to Drapchi Prison. While incarcerated in Drapchi, Ngawang Chokey and thirteen other nuns, including Ngawang Tsamdrol and Ngawang Lochoe, secretly recorded poems and songs on an audio cassette for their families, friends, and supporters. The cassette, which was smuggled out of the prison, contained the names of each participating nun.

As a result of this act of peaceful expression, Ngawang Chokey’s sentence was increased by an additional eight years, bringing her total prison term to thirteen years.