Gyaltsen Namdak (lay name: Dawa), a 24-year old monk in Sera Monastery in Tibet, was sentenced to a five-year prison term for distributing pamphlets containing political material, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.
In May 2006, the monastery residential police arrested Gyaltsen for alleged distribution of pamphlets containing explicit political views. Following his arrest, he was detained at the Gutsa Detention Centre until the court pronounced its verdict in October 2006.
The Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court sentenced him to five years on charges of “endangering state security”. He is currently imprisoned at Chushul (Ch: Qushui) Prison located in the west of Lhasa.
Gyaltsen Namthak was born in Namling (Ch: Nanmulin Xian) County in Shigatse (Ch: Xigaze/Rikaze) Prefecture. He spent seven years in Sera Monastery studying Buddhist spiritual texts.
It is reported that security in Sera Monastery has recently been stepped up with an increase in the number of police in residence in the monastery. Additionally, the People’s Armed Police monitor the monastery at night. During classes and prayer sessions, civil clothed police scrutinize the monks closely.
