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A Teacher Sentenced to Five-Year Imprisonment
Dharamsala, 16 December 2003: Nyima Tsering, 65, a teacher, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment term by Gyantse Intermediate People’s Court in June 2003 on charges of "inciting the masses".
A pres release issued here by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said that Nyima Tsering and his aide, Sonam, a shopkeeper, were arrested in December 2002 on alleged charges of distributing pro-independence pamphlets.
"Gyantse County Public Security Bureau ("PSB") officials arrested both the men from their home when information last reached TCHRD in January 2003. In June 2003, Gyantse Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Nyima Tsering to five years’ imprisonment term and Sonam to six months’ detention", the release said.
The two were transferred to Nyari Detention Centre in Shigatse Prefecture. After a few months’ detention, Nyima was sent to Drapchi Prison in Lhasa and Sonam was released.
Nyima Tsering, 65, was born in Gyantse County (Ch: Jiangzi Xian), Shigatse Prefecture, "Tibet Autonomous Region" ("TAR"). Early in his childhood, he was ordained as a monk at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. After leaving the monastery, he taught Tibetan language at the local government primary school for twenty years. Although Nyima was due for retirement in 2001, he continued to teach. Nyima is respected by the local community for his knowledge and good nature.
Sonam, 28, was born in Chakrigyap Village in Gyantse County, Shigatse Prefecture, "TAR". He did painting for sometime and later ran a shop in the village. Sonam last visited India for the second time was in 1998.
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