Torture and ill-treatment
Torture and ill-treatment is widespread in Tibet. Political prisoners are subjected to torture and maltreatment, to break their spirit and in order to obtain confessions that form the basis for convictions to long-term prison sentences.
Palden Gyatso spent 33 years in a Chinese prison. In front of him: some instruments of torture which were used on him during his time in prison.Reported common practices include:
- The use of electric-shock batons to the head, face, mouth or even genitals
- Beating with sticks and iron rods
- Forced sitting or standing in extreme positions for hours
- The applying of hot objects to the skin
- Mental torture and humiliation
- Deprivation of sleep and food
- Solitary confinement without daylight
Many kinds of cruel torture methods are used which can leave prisoners mentally and physically scarred.
A Tibetan woman who was an eyewitness to events in March 2008, and who spoke to others who witnessed the protests and riots, told ICT: "I have heard that all major prisons in Lhasa area – Gutsa [Detention Center], Sangyib, Nyithang, Tsalgungthang, and Toelung – were filled to maximum capacity, so other detained Tibetans were kept in the garage of the military station (Chinese: Jun Chu) on South Lingkor road in Lhasa.
Detainees were subjected to harsh beating and their major body joints – hands and legs – were [often] dislocated as soon as they were brought into custody. Then they were forced into kneeling position for days, as blood dripped from their body. They were questioned everyday [from] the first day [onwards]. During the interrogation, they were forced to kneel and lower their heads. Beatings, including stomping on their entire body, and electrocution by electric prods. [Sometimes] when detainees fell unconscious, they were woken up by coldwater being splashed upon them. Furthermore, detainees were beaten with sacks over their head. [...] Detainees, regardless of whether they had committed any crime or not, were treated in such brutal and inhumane ways. Those who had been charged were in for more brutal torture, including inserting bamboo through their nails and fingers tied tightly and beaten.
"Detainees were fed one small and dry steamed bun [Tibetan: Tingmo] and a small mug of water once a day. The lack of sufficient food to eat and water to drink forced them to drink their own urine, even though some were urinating blood [after this treatment]. I heard these accounts from a few people who have been released. They say they were not fed and were beaten severely. They were ordered not to tell anybody anything or face arrest. Those released were fined 2000 yuan (US $293)."
Source: "A Great Mountain Burned by Fire - China's crackdown in Tibet", International Campaign for Tibet (2009).
