In April 1995, Lodroe Gyatso was awaiting his execution as a result of staging a one-man independence demonstration while in Drapchi prison. The former dance artist was saved by his fellow prisoners who were able to smuggle the news of his impending death to the international community.
Lodroe Gyatso is a 37-year-old dance artist and three-times weight-lifting champion in Sok District in Nagchu county, 326 km from Lhasa. He belongs to the “TAR” Tsaronk-shang village number 3. His father, Jigme, died at the age of 87, his mother, Sonam Yeshi, is currently living in Sok District, and he has a younger brother named Tenzin Dhargye. Lodroe is known by the people of Sok District as a man of strong political convictions, possessing an immense love for his country.
In 1993 Lodroe’s sister, Lharik, was killed in a car being driven by a Tibetan named Gayoel, a known pro-Chinese. Lodroe later filed a murder case against Gayoel. Left pending for over a year, Gayoel was ultimately pronounced “not guilty”.
After the trial Gayoel was reported as having told people that he would kill Lodroe one day. Upon hearing this, Lodroe once again attempted to file a case with the Sok district police station but the authorities refused to register the case.
Some time later Lodroe reportedly received a message asking him to arrive at the Nagchu post office where he would receive news relating to the case. On 17 January 1993 Lodroe went to the market area where he was met by Gayoel who was holding a knife. Lodroe also took out his knife and a fight broke out.
Gayoel was said to have also carried a pistol and tried twice, unsuccessfully, to shoot Lodroe. In the course of the fight, during which two policemen stood by and did nothing, Gayoel was stabbed. The police then arrested Lodroe and eight officials of the People’s Armed Police took Gayoel to the army headquarters where he was admitted to hospital. The TAR Middle People’s Court found Lodroe guilty of murder and sentenced him on 20 April 1994 to 15 years imprisonment.
While serving his term in the 1st block of Drapchi prison, Lhasa, Lodroe thought of contacting the political prisoners of the 5th block to distribute some political literature before the Tibetan New year. On 4 March 1995, he sought permission from the authorities to go to the 5th block in order to get some medicine for a serious blood pressure problem. He was refused permission to visit the 5th block but was allowed to go, alone, to another block.
Lodroe thus had his chance and began demonstrating, proceeding from below the 5th block, along the 6th, 4th, 2nd and 1st blocks, and concluding in the courtyard of the 1st block. Lodroe called loudly “Tibet is independent” and “All Chinese should go back to China”. He also shouted that the six million Tibetans are united and believe that the Chinese should leave Tibet.
Lodroe also distributed pamphlets and hung posters with slogans like, “If His Holiness has no obstacles in his 25th year then he will become the ruler of all realms in his 60th year. The Tibetans have been under Chinese rule for 36 years and on this day, to commemorate the Tibetan people’s independence struggle, I represent the entire Tibetan people.” Lodroe read the posters aloud for every one to hear.
Soon after, two prison officials, Liu Bao and Zhao, Pema Rinzin, head of the 4th block, Lee Tue Tang of the 1st block and one Chinese official of the 6th block, snatched away the pamphlets and clamped thumb cuffs on Lodroe. They kicked and beat him with their belts and then tied and tortured him till he bled from his mouth and nose.
He was then taken to the torture cell where he was untied and beaten again. Pema Rinzin and the Chinese official of the 6th block beat Lodroe on his private parts and on his abdomen. Phuntsok Yong, the head of the prison, said, “If the Dalai Lama were here, I would put him here along with you. I should kill you and if I don’t increase your prison sentence, don’t call me by my name”.
On 7 March 1995 Lee Tue Tang, Liu Bao and Zhao demanded that Lodroe “confess to his mistakes”. He refused, saying “even if you kill me I will not confess” and continued to shout “Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama” and “Free Tibet”. He was then strangled and kicked on his neck and mouth until he fell unconscious. The interrogations continued regularly and from 4 March to 5 April 1995 Lodroe was given only two meals a day consisting of a small tingmo (Tibetan steamed bun) and a small mug of water.
Prison officials and Education-through-Labour Commission officials subsequently called a meeting, made papers to execute Lodroe Gyatso and forwarded them to the prosecution division. In April 1995, while the Middle People’s Court execution order was awaiting the approval of the Higher People’s Court, the prisoners of Drapchi were able to smuggle the news of Lodroe’s impending death to Voice of America. An urgent appeal was transmitted to China by the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions on 18 May 1995.
The Chinese response stated that no execution sentence had been passed, rather that Lodroe had been sentenced to a further six years imprisonment dated from 3 May 1995 and stripped of his political rights for three years.
Lodroe Gyatso is currently serving a 21 year sentence. Help protest the injustice of his sentence by writing an appeal letter to the Chinese authorities. For address details, contact TCHRD.