According to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Champa Chung, 56-year-old former assistant of Chadrel Rinpoche, is in custody even after expiry of his original four-year’s prison term in 1999. Arrested in 1995 over his role in the controversial reincarnation issue of the Panchen Lama, Champa Chung received four years’ prison term in addition to two years’ deprivation of political rights.
A reliable source confirmed that Champa Chung is still in detention. On conditions of anonymity, the source reported, “He is still in some kind of custody. I asked if this was las mi rukhag (forced job placement or Ch: jiyue), but was told that it was quite different. From what I could gather, it meant that although he has completed his sentence, he is held in some capacity in the same gora or courtyard of the prison.”
China’s Revised Criminal Procedure Law of March 1996 stipulates that the period in custody from the date of arrest is counted in the term of prison sentence. In accordance with the Chinese law, Champa Chung’s four-year prison term was to expire by 16 May 1999 since his arrest took place on 17 May 1995. The extended detention of Champa Chung, therefore, is in contravention of China’s national law and international laws as well.
Champa Chung (a.k.a Chung la, Ch: Qamba Qung) is a former Secretary of the Search Committee for the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama and Deputy Director of the Administration of Dechen Kelsang Potrang (Ch: Deqen Gaisang Phozhang), Panchen Lama’s residence in Shigatse in “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). The other two who were arrested with Champa Chung are Chadrel Rinpoche (64), former abbot of Tashilhunpo Monastery and head of Search Committee for the 10th Panchen Lama’s reincarnation, and Samdrup (mid thirties), a businessman from Panam County in Shigatse.
On 14 May 1995, the Dalai Lama announced the then six-year-old Gedhun Chokyi Nyima as the XI Panchen Lama of Tibet. Beijing authorities were quick to refute the proclamation and on 24 May 1995, denounced the Dalai Lama’s statement as “illegal and invalid”. On 17 May 1995, Gedhun Chokyi Nyima and his family disappeared and have not been seen till today. Despite assurances about his “well-being”, no government body, independent agency or individual has ever been allowed to meet the young boy who turned 14 this April. In November 1995, the Chinese Government appointed another six-year-old boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the XI Panchen Lama.
On 21 April 1997, Intermediate Court of Shigatse (Ch: Xigaze) Prefecture in “TAR” passed verdicts on Champa Chung, Chadrel Rinpoche and Samdrup. Champa Chung received four years’ prison term in Seitru Detention Centre (“TAR” Public Security Bureau Detention Centre) in Lhasa and two years’ deprivation of political rights; Chadrel Rinpoche was sentenced to six years’ prison term in Chuandong No. 3 Prison, Tazhu County, Sichuan Province with three years’ deprivation of political rights; Samdrup was given two years with subsequent deprivation of political rights for one year and he was most probably detained in Seitru Detention Centre.
According to Xinhua report of 7 May 1997, the three defendants were convicted of “conspiring to split the country” under Article 92 of the Criminal Law, which deals with “plots to subvert the government and dismember the State”. Under Article 92, the minimum punishment for this offence is 10 years’ imprisonment though the defendants received sentences below this minimum. Xinhua explained that the court passed sentences below the prescribed minimum in view of the “details of the case”.
Official reports stated that Chadrel Rinpoche was released in January 2002 in accordance with the court’s ruling. Exclusive information received by TCHRD earlier this year indicates that Chadrel Rinpoche is under house arrest in an isolated resort (Chi: dujian cun) south of Din military camp (Tib translit: srib dmag khang) in Lhasa. This information was corroborated by our current source who reported, “Chadrel Rinpoche is also still held in some way despite having completed his six years’ sentence, as everyone has assumed. There were rumours of a new house being built to hold him at a prison in Chongqing”.
The continued detention of both Champa Chung and Chadrel Rinpoche is indicative of the political sensitivity attached to the case. TCHRD demands immediate attention and action by the international community in pressurizing China to release both Chadrel Rinpoche and Champa Chung unconditionally and to reveal the whereabouts of Gedhun Chokyi Nyima.
Contact :
Norzin Dolma
Telefax: 01892 223363/ 225874
Email: norzin@tchrd.org
