A Tibetan Teacher sentenced to five years’ imprisonment term

TCHRD received confirmed information that Nyima Tsering, 65, a teacher, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment term by Gyantse Intermediate People’s Court in June 2003 on charges of “inciting the masses”.

Nyima Tsering and his accomplice, Sonam, 28, a shopkeeper, were arrested in December 2002 on alleged charges of distributing pro-independence pamphlets. Gyantse County Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) officials arrested both the men from their home when information last reached TCHRD in January 2003. In June 2003, Gyantse Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Nyima Tsering to five years’ imprisonment term and Sonam to six months’ detention. Both the men were then transferred to Shigatse Prefecture Detention Centre popularly known as Nyari Detention Centre. After few months’ detention, Sonam was released and Nyima Tsering was transferred to Drapchi Prison in Lhasa.

Nyima Tsering, 65, was born in Gyantse County (Ch: Jiangzi Xian), Shigatse Prefecture, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). Early in his childhood, he was ordained as a monk at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. After leaving the monastery, he taught Tibetan language at the local government primary school for twenty years. Although Nyima Tsering reached his retirement age in 2001, he continued to teach at the school. The local community respects Nyima Tsering for his knowledge and good nature.

Sonam, 28, was born in Chakrigyap Village in Gyantse County, Shigatse Prefecture, “TAR”. He did painting for sometime and later ran a shop in the village. Sonam had visited India twice and his last visit was in 1998.