Lobsang Tenzin

	Lobsang has already spent almost half of his life in prison. He was in his mid-twenties when he took part in a protest for Tibetan freedom in Lhasa. He was arrested and sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life. Read on...

Lobsang Tenzin – Student

Age: 47 (approx)

ARRESTED AND SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR PROTEST AGAINST CHINESE RULE, DEFIANCE AND OUTSTANDING COURAGE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.

Lobsang Tenzin was in his mid twenties in 1998 when he took part in a protest for Tibetan freedom in Lhasa. At the time he was a student at the Tibet University. He has spent the last 20 years behind bars for a simple act of raising voice for the right of Tibetan people.

Lobsang Tenzin was initially sentenced to death with a two years reprieve. Despite being on death row, Lobsang Tenzin continued to defy the Chinese authorities. In 1989, he wrote a letter expressing support for the ongoing pro-independence demonstrations that was smuggled out to the students of Tibet University. During the same year he also co-founded a group called “Snow Lion Youth for Tibetan Independence” with three fellow prisoners and several non-prisoners.

When officials discovered the existence of the movement the inmates were brutally beaten and subjected to solidary confinement for 34 days. Lobsang Tenzin was also put in shackles for 17 months. The other two  prisonmates, Dawa and Migmar Tashi, were eventually executed.

After being released from solitary confinement in 1990, Lobsang Tenzin organized the first known mass protest in Drapchi. Following the death of fellow prisoner and activist Lhakpa Tsering Lobsang Tenzin tore his sheet in half and wrote, “We mourn the death of Lhakpa Tsering,” and, “We demand improvements to the conditions of political prisoners,” on the two halves.

During a scheduled break when there were few guards around, Lobsang Tenzin organized a group of 150 prisoners to carry banners and march through the courtyard of the main prison office to demand answers to the cause of Lhakpa Tsering’s death. The distance of the courtyard was less than 100 yards but as one prisoner recounted, “that distance seemed like miles, such was the courage required to cover it.”
Despite being completely surrounded at this point by armed guards, Lobsang demanded that Lhakpa Tsering’s death be investigated and the medical officers and guards involved punished.  The day the protest occurred coincided with the day that criminal prisoners were allowed visitors. This ensured the quick spread of news relating to the protest throughout Lhasa, which generated a large amount of public support for the prisoners.

On March 31, 1991, Lobsang Tenzin was again at the forefront of prisoner dissidence. In preparation of the visit to Drapchi prisoner by James Lilley, U.S. Ambassador to China, Lobsang wrote a petition listing all the names of prisoners who had been tortured and an appeal for help from the American government. He and another prisoner Tenpa Wangdrag then attempted to hand the letter to the Ambassador, but it was confiscated by his Chinese interpreter.
Lobsang Tenzin and Tenpa Wangdrak were beaten and put in solitary confinement for three weeks.

However, due to international pressure and the personal intervention of the Ambassador, Lobsang Tenzin’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1991.

For his bravery and courageous determination to fight against all odds, Lobsang Tenzin became a hero amongst the prisoners at Drapchi. They repeatedly appealed for his release and made sure he was brought extra food rations.

On account of his popularity, Lobsang Tenzin was soon transferred to Powo Tramo Prison in Kongpo, eastern Tibet. His sentenced was further reduced to 20 years and he is now scheduled to be released on April 26, 2013. In 2005, Lobsang was again transfered, this time to Chusar prison, where it is believed he is carrying out farm work.