Takna Jigme Zangpo
Encyclopedia
Takna Jigme Zangpo or Takna Jigme Sangpo (born 1926) is the longest-serving political prisoner of Tibetan ethnicity
, having spent 37 years in a prison near Lhasa
. First imprisoned in 1964, he was released from prison on a medical parole on 31 March 2002 having reached the age of 76. He resided in the Drapchi Prison
.
He was first sentenced to three years of "re-education through labour" in 1964 because, as a schoolteacher, he had "corrupted the minds of children with reactionary ideas" (in fact, he taught Tibetan history, culture and language, then forbidden in Tibet). He served a further ten-year sentence from 1970 as punishment for "political activities".
In 1983 he received a 15-year sentence and five years deprivation of civil and political rights
for "spreading and inciting counter-revolutionary propaganda" after he had been seen pasting a personally written wall poster at the gates of the Jokhang temple in Lhasa on 12 July 1983. That sentence was increased by five years after he shouted "reactionary slogans" in Drapchi on 1 December 1988.
On 6 December 1991, he was reportedly beaten, held in solitary confinement
for six weeks, and his sentence extended by eight years for shouting "Free Tibet" during a visit to Drapchi prison by the Swiss ambassador to China.
Following his involvement in protests at Drapchi prison on 1 May 1998 until 4 May 1998, he was held in solitary confinement
.
Even while imprisoned, he continued to protest for a free Tibet, for which he was given additional prison sentences of many years. Despite his advanced age and years in prison, he continued to encourage his fellow Tibetans in their struggle for freedom. An April 2002 report described him as "one of the most determined and intransigent political prisoner
s in Drapchi . . . highly respected by other political prisoners".
John Kamm
, director of the Dui Hua Foundation
, has been involved in negotiations for Jigme Zangpo's release.
Takna Jigme Sangpo was released March 31, 2002, and was authorized to go to Washington July 13, 2002. In August 2002, he settled in Switzerland as a political refuge.
He was invited to speak at the UNO Council on June 6, 2008.
Tibetan people
The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
, having spent 37 years in a prison near Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
. First imprisoned in 1964, he was released from prison on a medical parole on 31 March 2002 having reached the age of 76. He resided in the Drapchi Prison
Drapchi Prison
Drapchi Prison, or Lhasa Prison No. 1 is the largest prison in Tibet, located in Lhasa.Originally built as a Tibetan military garrison, Drapchi was transformed into a prison after the 1959 Tibetan uprising....
.
He was first sentenced to three years of "re-education through labour" in 1964 because, as a schoolteacher, he had "corrupted the minds of children with reactionary ideas" (in fact, he taught Tibetan history, culture and language, then forbidden in Tibet). He served a further ten-year sentence from 1970 as punishment for "political activities".
In 1983 he received a 15-year sentence and five years deprivation of civil and political rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
for "spreading and inciting counter-revolutionary propaganda" after he had been seen pasting a personally written wall poster at the gates of the Jokhang temple in Lhasa on 12 July 1983. That sentence was increased by five years after he shouted "reactionary slogans" in Drapchi on 1 December 1988.
On 6 December 1991, he was reportedly beaten, held in solitary confinement
Solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...
for six weeks, and his sentence extended by eight years for shouting "Free Tibet" during a visit to Drapchi prison by the Swiss ambassador to China.
Following his involvement in protests at Drapchi prison on 1 May 1998 until 4 May 1998, he was held in solitary confinement
Solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...
.
Even while imprisoned, he continued to protest for a free Tibet, for which he was given additional prison sentences of many years. Despite his advanced age and years in prison, he continued to encourage his fellow Tibetans in their struggle for freedom. An April 2002 report described him as "one of the most determined and intransigent political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
s in Drapchi . . . highly respected by other political prisoners".
John Kamm
John Kamm
John Kamm is an American businessman, Human Rights activist, and founder of The Dui Hua Foundation. He is credited with having helped over 400 religious and political prisoners in China.- Early work :...
, director of the Dui Hua Foundation
Dui Hua Foundation
The Dui Hua Foundation is a San Francisco based non-profit organization dedicated to improving universal human rights by means of a well-informed dialogue between the United States and China...
, has been involved in negotiations for Jigme Zangpo's release.
Takna Jigme Sangpo was released March 31, 2002, and was authorized to go to Washington July 13, 2002. In August 2002, he settled in Switzerland as a political refuge.
He was invited to speak at the UNO Council on June 6, 2008.