By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, December 23: Chinese authorities have released a Tibetan monk named Sherab Dhargay after completing a sentence of twelve years in prison in Khyungchu County, Amdo on December 18.
In 2003, Sherab Dhargay was arrested along with five other monks of Khangmar monastery for carving ‘Free Tibet’ slogans on stones, circulating a note on unity of Tibetans, displaying Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and then Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche’s pictures, raising Tibetan national flag and calling for the return of the exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama to Tibet.
On August 27, 2003, the Intermediate People’s court in Ngaba sentenced Sherab Dhargay, Jamyang Soepa and Gedun Choephel to twelve years in prison. Woeser was sentenced to eight years in prison while Migyur and Tsakho Lhadripa were sentenced to one year each in prison.
Migyur and Lhadripa were released on the completion of their prison term. Woeser was released in 2008, three years before the completion of his prison terms in poor health condition. He was subjected to severe torture in prison resulting in the loss of his eyesight, hearing ability and damage of organs.
In 2012, Jamyang Soepa was released before his actual date of release for his role in saving lives of several people during the 2008 earthquake. Gedun Choephel was released on 2013.
