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May 06, 2013

Tibetan writer released in serious health condition

DHARAMSHALA, May 6: Chinese authorities have released another Tibetan political prisoner, Jigme Gyatso, who is being described in serious health condition, from the Lanzhou city Prison No. 1 on April 27.

The 28-year-old Tibetan writer and activist was released at the completion of his three year prison term. Eyewitnesses have said that Jigme Gyatso is in serious health condition with injuries to his spine and kidneys. Due to the long hours of forced prison labour as a tailor, Jigme Gyatso’s eyesight has also weakened drastically according to reports.

The young writer’s long time friends have been quoted as saying that Jigme Gyatso has become “unrecognisable,” while some suspect that he has suffered irreparable damage to his brains.

Jigme Gyatso was arrested in 2010 in connection with the popular students’ protest in Rebkong, eastern Tibet in October 20. Thousands of Tibetan students from six different schools had taken part in the peaceful protest against the Chinese government’s decision to replace Tibetan as medium of instruction by Chinese language in Tibetan schools in eastern Tibet.

Following the protest, Jigme Gyatso fled to Tsoe in the nearby Kanlho region, where he was arrested from a cyber café by Chinese security personnel while he was sending out information on the students’ protest.

Earlier in 2008, he had also reportedly shared information on the conditions of Tibetan political prisoners Golog Jigme, Jigme Goril and Gartse Jigme with outsiders.

Jigme Gyatso is a native of Malho, eastern Tibet and son of Sherab and Dolkar. He writes under the pseudonym Ari Jigme and has penned numerous essays on various subjects including political.

Jigme Gyatso’s release comes days after the release of two other Tibetan prisoners in poor health condition at the completion of their lengthy prison terms.

Lodoe Gyatso, 52, was released on May 2 after completing his 21-year prison term while Lobsang Tenzin, one of Tibet’s longest serving political prisoners, was released in poor health condition after spending 25-years in jail.