Namdrol Lhamo, born in 1964 in Shigatse County, became a nun in 1984 and later moved to Lhasa to join Chubsang Nunnery. In 1990, during a period of intense pro-independence demonstrations in Tibet, she and two fellow nuns took part in a protest in Lhasa, chanting slogans in support of Tibetan freedom. They were arrested by officials of the Chinese Public Security Bureau and taken to Gutsa Detention Centre, where they were beaten and subjected to harsh interrogations.

In November 1990, Namdrol Lhamo and the other two nuns were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. She was transferred to Drapchi Prison, where she was forced to perform hard labour under severe conditions. Any failure to meet work quotas or comply with orders resulted in harsh punishment.

In 1993, Namdrol Lhamo and thirteen other nuns, including Ngawang Choezom and Ngawang Lochoe, secretly recorded songs and poems expressing support for Tibetan independence. As a result, their sentences were extended. Namdrol Lhamo’s sentence was increased to a total of eleven years, Ngawang Choezom’s to seven years, and Ngawang Lochoe’s to eleven years.