ATPD Welcomes Geshe’s Release
Dharamsala 29 October: The Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies today welcomed the release of Geshe Sonam Phunstok popularly known as Kardze Geshe after being jailed for five years. Reports say that Geshe is in poor health. Mr. Pema Jungney, in a press release issued today, hoped that Geshe would recover soon from his illness and meet with his family.
The ATPD also expressed its gratitude to the international support network in ‘expediting the immediate release of Geshe. It also appealed to all the human rights monitoring agencies and Tibet Support Groups worldwide to intensify pressure on the government of People’s Republic of China to ensure the release of all other political prisoners of Tibet including Trulku Tenzin Delek who was earlier sentenced to death with a two – year reprieve.
Geshe Sonam Phuntsok was arrested by the Chinese authorities on 25 October 1999 for carrying out religious activities and for offering a long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.