China secretly releases Tibetan prisoner to prevent public celebration

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Phuntsok Yangchen
Phayul
May 7, 2015

A Tibetan political prisoner has been secretly released by Chinese authorities to avoid public celebration of his arrival by local Tibetans of Serthang town in Dashi County in the Tsojang (Haibei) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Radio Free Asia reported

Samdrub Gyatso, in his 30s, was imprisoned in Drapchi prison, one of the most notorious prisons of Tibet.

Chinese police escorted Gyatso to Shis native town of Serthang two days after his release on May 1.

Gyatso was arrested after carrying out a solitary protest in front of Jhokang temple in Lhasa calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and restoration of property belonging to Tibetans from their land following a devastating earthquake.

Gyatso’s whereabouts remained unknown for a while following his arrest. Family members and fellow Tibetans later found out that he was held in Drapchi serving a five year sentence.

Gyatso was briefly detained in 2009 upon his return from a trip to India where he had travelled in 2007.
He was charged with ‘possession of books comprising of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings,’ among other allegations. He was later released after three days of interrogation and fine of 10,000 Chinese Yuan (US $ 1,611).