Phuntsog Nyidron at UN Human Rights Expert Body

Tuesday, 16 August 2006, 3:00 p.m.

Phuntsog Nyidron testifying at the UN Expert Body

Geneva: Phuntsog Nyidron, a former Tibetan political prisoner, testified at the 58th session of the UN Sub-Commission on promotion and protection of human rights on 14 August.

Known as one of the Singing Nuns of Drapchi Prison, she informed the UN human rights expert body about her 15 years of imprisonment describing the experiences as torturous, humiliating, unhealthy lacking in legal rights.

“By relating my own personal experience of 15 years in Chinese prison and Chinese officials’ torture and humiliation, I wish to inform the Sub-Commission about the consistent pattern of violation of human rights and fundamental freedom of the Tibetan people, and in particular, those of the Tibetan political prisoners,” she told the 26 experts of the body.

Referring to the Sub-Commission’s resolution on Tibet, Ms. Nyidron said “it was when I was in prison that this Sub-Commission adopted a historic resolution on Tibet on 23 August 1991. Although we could not openly express our joys or directly convey our gratitude to the Sub-Commission at that time, I wish to, today, on behalf of the Tibetan people, especially the political prisoners of Tibet, say a very big thank you for your expression of concern. It meant a lot for us when we were languishing in the dark, cold and squalid prison cells”

Phuntsok Nyidron who has now received political asylum in Switzerland arrived last week in Geneva to prepare her statement and briefed officials at the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights about the situation in Tibet.

Referring to her life after release in February 2004, she said that she was kept under constant watch by the Chinese authorities. “I was under constant surveillance with two policemen posted at our home. It was during this time that the Chinese authorities took me to meet foreign delegations, including the Chairperson of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. However, at the time of these meetings, I had no clear knowledge of who these people were or about their work. I only understood the significance of these visits to me only after coming to the United States.”

Speaking in Tibetan, Phuntsok Nyidron urged the UN Sub-Commission on human
rights to help bring about a change in the situation inside Tibet. She said “despite China’s claim of the situation being better, I can say that even today Tibetans in Tibet do not enjoy those rights that are even guaranteed by the Chinese Constitution. I stand before you today as a testimony to the fact that international concern and intervention on the deplorable human rights situation in Tibet does have an effect. While I rejoice in my freedom I urge the United Nations human rights bodies not to forget the very many Tibetans who have been imprisoned solely for voicing their strong feelings towards their religious, and cultural identity and for the peaceful expression of their support for the non-violent struggle of Tibet.”

Phuntsok Nyidron was released to the United States on 15 March this year and
now lives in Zurich, Switzerland. She was also the recipient of the Reebok
Human Rights Award in 1995.

Report sent by the Tibet Bureau, Geneva

(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)