Phuntsok Tseyang

POLITICAL PRISONER
Does it have an image?
No
Gender
Female
Age at Detention
16
Origin County Level
Origin County Geolocation

Latitude: 29.8946899

Longitude: 91.2619

Origin County Geolocation (linked POLITICAL PRISONER)
Phenpo Lhundrup County(ཕན་པོ་ལྷུན་འགྲུབ་རྩེ།)
Origin Province
  • Tibet Autonomous Region
Origin Prefecture
  • Lhasa
Occupation at Detention
Religious
Vulnerable Group at Detention
  • Juvenile
  • Religious
Date of arrest
14/08/1991
Detention Centre/Prison
Trisam RTL centre
Description of event

Ms. Phuntsok Tseyang became a nun at the age of 14 at Michhungri Nunnery. Life in the nunnery was extremely difficult due to the many restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities. Nuns and monks were deprived of even basic human rights. They were forced to be self-supporting, qualified teachers were rarely available, and outsiders were prohibited from giving religious teachings or talks. Religious freedom was severely restricted.

Place(s) of Previous Detention
  • Prison
Violations Faced in Detention
  • Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment: Use of Tiger Chairs
Details of Violations Faced in Detention

In response to these conditions, Phuntsok Tseyang joined fifteen others in a peaceful demonstration in the Barkor area of Lhasa on 14 August 1991. The demonstrators called for freedom for Tibet, respect for human rights, and religious freedom. She was arrested the same day and taken to Gutsa Prison. During interrogation, she was subjected to severe torture, including beatings with sticks, electric shocks, and repeated kicking by police officers.

Phuntsok Tseyang was detained for six months in Gutsa Prison and then transferred to Trisam Prison, where she was held for a further one year and six months.

Types of Human Rights Violations
  • Civil and Political Rights Violations: Right to Freedom of Expression and Opinion
Length of Sentence
2 years
Prison Location
  • TAR
Date of release
14/08/1993
Type of Sources
  • Primary: TCHRD field sources
Torture
Torture
Comments

She was released on 14 August 1993. At the time of her release, many other nuns and laywomen remained imprisoned in Trisam and other prisons. These included:

Phuntsok Tseyang (18), Gyaltsen Ngoedup (20), Tashi Dolkar (24), Ngawang Tseten (27), Gyaltsen Damchhoe (24), Tsering Sangmo (24), Ngawang Nyidon (23), Gyaltsen Lochhoe (24), Ngawang Palkyi (17), Tashi Sangmo (27, laywoman), Phuntsok Nyidon (24), Phuntsok Pema (24), Lobsang Chhoden (25), Tenzin Ngawang (25), Tenzin Thupten (24), Lobsang Chhoden (24), Gyaltsen Lungrin (23), Lhundup Sangmo (24), Lobsang Dolma (24), Karma Thinley (26), Thinley Choezom (18), Phuntsok Yangkyi (19), Kelsang Wangmo (24), Tenzin Wangmo (23), Tenzin Saldon (23), Tenzin Chokeyi (24), Lobsang Chhodon (20), Sherab Ngawang (15), Jampa Dhedon (24), Tenzin Dekey (14), Ngawang Dolma (15), and Lobsang Dolma (22).

Their continued detention reflected the widespread repression faced by Tibetan nuns and laywomen for peacefully advocating human rights, religious freedom, and freedom for Tibet.

Published
Published