Ra Tsering Dhondup is shown in an undated photo
Photo: RFA
Ra Tsering Dhondup, a Tibetan writer and former political prisoner died at the age of 34 on September 15 in a hospital in Chengdu. His health has suffered during the eight years since his release from prison in 2013. He was arrested in February 2010 and imprisoned for three years for publishing a magazine which criticised the Chinese government.
The magazine, published by Dhondup with two other friends, described the situation inside Tibet following the widespread protests in Tibet in 2008, reports Radio Free Asia. Dhondup was arbitrarily detained in Markham city for his involvement in the publication and later sent to Mianyang Prison where he completed his three year prison sentence. He was released in 2013 in poor health; his health deteriorated during the last eight years and he finally succumbed to liver disease, said Gendun Tsering, a friend and colleague of Dhondup, who is currently living in exile.
Tibetan prisoners are “brutally tortured which often leads to major health complications, especially liver and kidney”, stated Gu Chu Sum, the association representing former political prisoners based in Dharamshala.
Tenzin Dawa, a researcher at the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, said that “harsh treatment and lack of medical care in prison” caused Dhondup’s poor health following his release. There have been many cases of Tibetan political prisoners being released in a critical health condition, either before their prison term is completed, or at the end of their term.
RFA’s report confirmed that “at least seven reported during the last year to have died—either in prison or after their release—from injuries inflicted under torture in custody”.
Dhondup was a monk at Rongtha monastery in Khyungchu county in Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He wrote under the penname Shinglo Marpo [En: Red Leaf]. Following his release, he published writings that he had written while in the prison.
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