By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, May 4: A Tibetan political prisoner has been released three years before his 13-year imprisonment term ended from a Chinese prison in Gansu province in Northwest China late last month, reported Radio Free Asia.
Visibly in poor physical condition, Jampal, 45, was released on April 30 from Baiyin prison near Lanzhou, provincial capital of Gansu. According to a source from the region, he reached his home Nangma Tsangkor Village of Tserima Township in Machu County the next day at around 11 a.m. (local time) with many Tibetans gathered to welcome him back.
Arrested on March 14, 2008 and charged with leading a protest in front of government offices in Tserima Township during the widespread protest throughout Tibet, Jampal was held at the Machu County detention center for eight months.
“He was later sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in Baiyin Prison,” the source said, “He has been subjected to beatings and tortures and suffered injuries to his head and leg resulting in him having difficulty walking.”
The source said that his family members were unable to recognize a ‘weak and thin’ Jampal when they went to the prison to receive him. The source further added that the reason for his early release was his good behavior and rapport with the prison authorities and his fellow inmates.
