International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Dharamshala: 26th of June marks the 15th anniversary
of the United Nations International Day in Support of the Victims of
Torture. A commemorative was held yesterday at 6pm yesterday evening at
Tibetan Day school. The chief guests were Sonam Choephel security of
the Central Tibetan Administrations Department of Health and Dawa, a
researcher from the Tibetan centre for Human Rights and Democracy
(TCHRD).
The
movement was organized by a section of the Department of Health and Gu
Chu Sum movement of Tibet. This is the health office's first bit of
involvement with the movement. 200 people attended the memorial.
The
speeches kicked off with the Vice President of the Gu Chu Sum movement
Lukar Sham. Since the day was to remind the world of torture he
proceeded to shed light on the Chinese methods of torture.
He
said that the Chinese government had been using electrical torture
devices which inflicted serious wounds on many political prisoners. In
recent months however the Chinese have used forms of torture that did
not leave any visible scars.
He
was clear in stating that many political prisoners were often found
dead after their release. The world he felt needed to know about these
atrocities.
He
was followed by Sonam Choephel, he highlighted how the Tibetan health
office has helped with money for political prisoners since much earlier,
but they didn't hold ceremony on this day.
He
mentioned how it was the department's first venture with the GU CHU SUM
movement which held this annually. The health office felt that it is
important to be part of the movement.
Dawa then gave a speech about the Chinese governmental practices. Many prisoners have been incarcerated on baseless charges.
A
performance followed the speeches about Tibetan protests in Tibet and
also the crackdown by the Chinese authorities. It portrayed the trials
that prisoners and protesters have undergone. They give lifetime
sentence for a long time by members of GU CHU SUM movement.
The
TCHRD had been prompted many years ago to bring up this issue. It seems
to be relevant more than ever. 40 self-immolations and counting seem to
suggest that the internal strife within Tibet is getting worse.
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