Kunchok Lodroe was a Tibetan farmer from Dasher Village in Meldrogungkar County who became known for his role in a rare act of collective resistance against Chinese rule. On 30 June 1992, he joined four fellow villagers in a peaceful protest march toward Lhasa, during which they shouted pro-independence slogans and raised the banned Tibetan national flag.

Chinese Public Security Bureau officials quickly moved to suppress the protest. During his arrest, Kunchok was subjected to severe police violence and suffered serious injuries to his head and face. Despite the nonviolent nature of the protest, he was later tried and sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment. In addition, he was given four years of deprivation of political rights, further extending the punishment beyond his prison term.

Kunchok was released on medical parole in 1996.