By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, August 25: A Tibetan political prisoner has been released secretly on August 21 upon completion of his nine-year prison sentence in a Chinese prison at Yonru Township in Lithang County.
Jamyang Kunkhen was released around midnight of August 21 to avoid celebrations and festive reception by his fellow villagers. “He was released after nine years’ sentence secretly so that people can’t celebrate his arrival. However, his legs are injured severely and in bad shape,” Lobsang, a monk living in exile told the Voice of Tibet, citing sources from the region.
A teacher by profession and also a part time artiste, he suffered a bad eye injury during his stay in prison. However, it has recovered well, the same source said.
Kunkhen was arbitrarily arrested on 22 August 2007 by the Lithang County PSB officials for unknown reasons, and was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment by the Kardze Intermediate People’s Court on charges of carrying out splittist activities.
Kunkhen was sentenced along with Adruk Lopoe, who received a ten-year sentence under the charge of carrying out protest, colluding with “foreign separatist forces to split the country” and distributing political pamphlets. The current physical condition of 54-year old Adruk lopoe is still unknown.
