Statement by Phuntsog Nyidron (Tibetan Nun)

(Translated from the original Tibetan)
International Campaign for Tibet
Washington, D.C. -- March 22nd, 2006

Respected Everyone

I would like to offer my Tashi Delek and greetings to everyone and to express my pleasure at being able to communicate to you all after I arrived in this land of freedom.

Following my participation in a peaceful rally for Tibetan independence in October 1989 (when I was 19 years old) in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, along with five other nuns from my nunnery, the Chinese Government detained me and sentenced me to nine years of imprisonment. In 1993, along with 13 other political prisoner s I secretly recorded songs in prison that were in praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and about the situation of the political prisoners. On account of this, my sentence was extended by eight years, making my total sentence 17 years. However, in February of 2004, I was suddenly released from prison but nevertheless continued to undergo difficulties. I was under constant supervision of officials from the county.

What is most important is that during my time in prison although the Chinese Government made it difficult for me both physically and mentally, I did not waver at all in my initial motivation. At times when I underwent unimaginable torture my determination to struggle for Tibetan independence became stronger.

I am an ordinary Tibetan and like the other political prisoners in the Chinese prisons in Tibet I have undergone hardship. However, after 15 years in prison I owe my freedom firstly to the grace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and also to those countries who have shown their concern for the Tibetan political prisoners by putting pressure on the Chinese Government. I am also grateful to my fellow Tibetans and to the supporters of the Tibetan people, both organizations and individuals, for bringing awareness to the situation of the political prisoners in the international community. I want to express my heartfelt thank you to all of you.

My foremost desire at this point of time is to seek an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to hear his advice. This is something that I, like all other Tibetans in Tibet, have been praying for on a daily basis.

During my time in prison I have had medical problems. Since I did not have the facilities or the freedom to undergo proper medical treatment upon my release from prison, I would like to do that now. Thereafter, I want to commit myself to continuing my w ork for the just cause of the Tibetan people. Education is something that is very important in a society. I had to spent my young life in prison and therefore I would now like to seize the opportunity and plan to get some education.

I would like to repeat my gratitude to all those countries and individuals who have been concerned about the Tibetan political prisoners. I would urge you to continue helping other helpless Tibetan political prisoners, including those who may have been released but who continue to be denied of their freedom in their homes.

I would like to specially appeal to all concerned to help protect the rights of the Tibetan people in Tibet and to enable the Tibetan people to secure freedom at the earliest.

Phuntsog Nyidron