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Gyaltsen Drolkar (lay name, Dawa) was born in Meldrogungkar, Tibet, in 1970. At 18 she joined Garu Nunnery, and was arrested on 21 August 1990 for taking part in a peaceful demonstration. Her 4-year sentence was extended by 8 years for taking part in the secret recording of songs. Despite suffering severe beatings and torture, she survived 12 years in Drapchi Prison and was released in 2003. She later escaped to India and was granted asylum in Belgium. |
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| Lhundrub Zangmo (lay name, Zangmo) was born in 1967 in Phenpo County, Tibet, and joined Mechungri Nunnery when she was 20. She was arrested 21 August 1990 for taking part in a peaceful demonstration and sentenced to 4 years in Drapchi Prison. Her sentence was extended by 5 years for taking part in the recording of songs inside her prison cell. She was released after 9 years’ imprisonment and then escaped to India where she still resides. |
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Namdrol Lhamo (lay name, Nyidrol) was born in 1965 in Shigatse, Tibet. She joined Tashi Choeling Nunnery when she was 17, and was arrested on 12 May 1992 for taking part in a peaceful demonstration. Her 6-year sentence was doubled for her part in the recording of songs in Drapchi Prison. She survived 12 years in Drapchi Prison and was released in 2004. She later escaped to India and was granted asylum in Belgium. |
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Ngawang Sangdrol (lay name, Rigchog) was born in 1977 in Lhasa, Tibet. As a child she was enrolled in Garu Nunnery and at the age of 13 she spent 9 months in a detention centre where she was tortured and beaten for taking part in a peaceful demonstration. She was arrested again in June 1992 and sentenced to 3 years in Drapchi Prison. Her sentence was extended three times, bringing her sentence to 23 years (consolidated to 21 years by the courts). She was due to have completed her sentence in June 2013, but was arrested early – days before the U.S. and Chinese presidents were due to meet – in October 2002. She now lives in New Jersey. |
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Phuntsog Nyidron (lay name, Tseten Kunsang) was born in 1969, in Phenpo County, Tibet. In 1986 she joined Mechungri Nunnery near Lhasa, Tibet. She was arrested on 14 October 1989 for taking part in a peaceful demonstration with five other nuns in Lhasa. Her initial 9-years sentence was extended by 8 years for taking part in the secret recording of songs on a cassette recorder inside her prison cell in 1993. Unbeknown to her, she won the Reebok Human Rights Award in 1995 while still incarcerated in Drapchi Prison. She was released on medical parole on 26 February 2004. She now lives in Switzerland. |
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Rinzin Choenyi (lay name Yangzom) was born in 1966 in Lhokha, Tibet, and was ordained at Shugsib Nunnery. On 28 August 1990 she was arrested for taking part in a peaceful demonstration and sentenced to 7 years in Drapchi Prison. Her sentence was extended by 5 years for taking part in the secret recording of songs. After more than 12 years of imprisonment, she was released in September 2002. In 2006 she escaped to India, where she still resides. |
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Ngawang Lochoe died in custody in February 2001, aged 26, following years of abuse and torture.The following seven former political prisoners have been released from Drapchi Prison upon the completion of their sentences, and remain in Tibet:
Tenzin Thubten Survived 14 years in Drapchi Prison.
Ngawang Choekyi Released after 13 years.
Jigme Yangchen 12 years; she is known to suffer from extreme anxiety and panic attacks
Ngawang Choezom 11 years.
Ngawang Tsamdrol 10 years.
Gyaltsen Choezom 9 years.
Palden Choedron 8 years; she was later caught trying to escape to India and then served a three-year administrative sentence.
Download Echoes of Drapchi PrisonPDF, containing background to the ‘Drapchi 14’ and more detailed biographies. A printed version of this reunion report is also available (coming soon) |
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