Additional Name(s): Tsultrim Nyendak, ཚུལ་ཁྲིམས་སྙན་གྲགས་, 楚臣年扎(音)
Gender: Male
Current Location: Qushui Prison, Chushur
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Sentence: 9 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December//2013
Date of Sentencing: July//2014
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Pilgrimage Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Tsultrim Nyandrag was imprisoned in relation to his religious belief and activity.
In December 2013, public security officials in Lhasa city, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) detained Nyandrag, a monk from Rabten Monastery, while he was in Lhasa on pilgrimage. His detention possibly in connection with a series of protests in Biru, where his monastery is located.
In July 2014, Nyandrag was reportedly sentenced to nine years in prison on unspecified charges.
Nyandrag has reportedly been denied adequate medical care and tortured while imprisoned.
Nyandrag's sentence should have ended in December 2022.
"Tsultrim Nyandrag" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
Additional Name(s): དབང་ཆེན་, 旺钦
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: Yes
Date of Detainment: July//2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Pilgrimage Praying Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly
Wangchen is detained for his religious activity.
In June 2023, police in Lhasa municipality, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), detained Wangchen while he was on pilgrimage with his family. Police allegedly beat him during interrogation, resulting in his hospitalization.
Wangchen was imprisoned for his religious activity and for protesting religious freedom conditions.
On April 29, 2019, authorities in Sershul (Shiqu) county, Kardze (Ganzi) TAP, Sichuan province, detained Wangchen for reportedly praying for the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama. Wangchen reportedly burnt incense and raised prayer flags behind the Sershul monastery.
On May 8, 2019, the Sershul County People's Court sentenced Wangchen to four years in prison for leading an illegal public protest. Previous reports said he had been sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
In April 2023, Wangchen was released after completing his sentence.
"Wangchen" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)
"Tibetan Man, Aunt Sentenced For Panchen Lama Protest in Sichuan" Radio Free Asia (RFA)
Additional Name(s): Wangchuk, དབང་ཕྱུག་, 旺秀
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: March/8/2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Distributing Religious Materials Online Activity Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Wangchug is detained for sharing religious information.
On or around March 8, 2019, authorities in Shigatse (Rikaze) municipality, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), detained Wangchug, a businessman, reportedly for using WeChat to share information about the Dalai Lama's teachings and the Tibetan translation of a book written by the Dalai Lama's brother.
Local authorities reportedly punished Wangchug's family by canceling their public welfare and restricting their ability to travel outside Nyalam county.
"Wangchug" Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)