By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Aug 24: Former Tibetan political prisoner Sonam Gyalpo, who has spent an aggregate of 16 years in Chinese prison on vague political charges has reportedly passed away. The veteran political prisoner passed away aged around 72 on August 16 at his residence in Lhasa. Born on June 14, 1955, Gyalpo hailed from Gongkar County of Lhoka Prefecture in the so called Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).
Sonam Gyalpo was first apprehended on September 27, 1987, following his involvement in a peaceful demonstration advocating for Tibetan independence in Lhasa. This led to his sentencing to three years in Drapchi Prison. His imprisonments were characterised by allegations of “counter-revolutionary” activities, a term often used by Chinese authorities to suppress political dissent. He was released on September 20, 1990.
In July 1993, he was rearrested under the pretext of causing political offence upon his return from Nepal after visiting his brother and receiving blessings from the Dalai Lama in India. His arrest was carried out on the night of July 23, 1993, at his residence. His detention was ostensibly due to his international travels without proper documentation. During his time in custody, Gyalpo faced periods of incommunicado detention and transfers between different prisons. He endured confinement in Nyara Prison in Shigatse for six months, followed by another six-month term at Sangyip Prison in Lhasa.
He was detained for a third time on 28 August 2005 by authorities of the Chinese State Security Bureau who apprehended Sonam Gyalpo from his residence in Lhasa. The detention was followed by a random search of his house, during which pictures, videotapes, and books featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama were confiscated, and led to him being accused of “endangering state security”.
This event transpired shortly before the 40th founding anniversary celebration of the “Tibet Autonomous Region,” a period of heightened sensitivity for Chinese authorities. Subsequently, in mid-2006, the Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Gyalpo to 12 years imprisonment. Following his conviction, Gyalpo was held incommunicado at the Seitru Detention Centre, also known as the “TAR” Public Security Bureau Detention Centre, in Lhasa for approximately 10 months. Later, on November 3, 2006, Gyalpo was transferred to Chushul Prison and was eventually released on August 27, 2017.
