Free Tibetan Monk, Jigme Gyatso
- by: Dr Edie S Sears
- recipient: UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez
Jigme Gyatso's survival is at stake due to his debilitating health, according to a December 30, 2010 news report from the Tibetan government in exile.
Tibetan political prisoner, Jigme Gyatso, was tortured after speaking to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture during an official prison visit in 2005, and is now believed to be seriously ill in Chusur prison in Tibet. Along with The International Campaign for Tibet, we appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, to call for Jigme Gyatso's urgent release on medical grounds due to fears for his life following repeated torture since his arrest 15 years ago.
Jigme Gyatso, a former Tibetan Buddhist monk, is serving 18 years in prison for "counter-revolution" and "inciting splittism." Jigme Gyatso received the longest sentence of a group of five Tibetans who carried out various acts of peaceful resistance, including putting up a Tibetan national flag at Ganden monastery and discussing Tibetan independence. Jigme Gyatso's sentence extension was imposed after an incident in March 2004 in which he yelled out, "Long live the Dalai Lama," for which he was kicked and beaten, including with electric batons. The report of the UN Rapporteur on Torture states: "The electric batons were used on his back and chest with painful effect, and ceased once the Chief of Police came and stopped it."
According to new information from Tibetan sources, Gyatso is in extremely poor health and being isolated from other prisoners. Gyatso was also denied family visits on three occasions in the last few months.
Thank you for your prompt action. Free Jigme Gyatso!
Tibetan political prisoner, Jigme Gyatso, was tortured after speaking to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture during an official prison visit in 2005, and is now believed to be seriously ill in Chusur prison in Tibet.. Along with The International Campaign for Tibet, we appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, to call for Jigme Gyatso's urgent release on medical grounds due to fears for his life following repeated torture since his arrest 15 years ago.
Jigme Gyatso, a former Tibetan Buddhist monk, is serving 18 years in prison for "counter-revolution" and "inciting splittism." Jigme Gyatso received the longest sentence of a group of five Tibetans who carried out various acts of peaceful resistance, including putting up a Tibetan national flag at Ganden monastery and discussing Tibetan independence. Jigme Gyatso's sentence extension was imposed after an incident in March 2004 in which he yelled out, "Long live the Dalai Lama," for which he was kicked and beaten, including with electric batons. The report of the UN Rapporteur on Torture states: "The electric batons were used on his back and chest with painful effect, and ceased once the Chief of Police came and stopped it."
According to new information from Tibetan sources, Gyatso is in extremely poor health and being isolated from other prisoners. Gyatso was also denied family visits on three occasions in the last few months.
Thank you for your prompt action in negotiating the release of Jigme Gyatso!
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