"The military exercises began with daily sessions of standing in the direct sunlight… Sometimes the guards would put books or cups of water on our heads to make sure that we were not moving. When the book fell or when some water was spilled, then you would be beaten . . ."

Following the May 1998 prison protests and her refusal to sing songs of praise for the Chinese government, Passang was held in solitary confinement and subjected to numerous beatings and torture sessions. Following her release in 1999, Passang was denied all political rights and could not rejoin her nunnery.

In Tibet, Tibetans have suffered intense political and religious oppression at the hands of Chinese authorities. In particular, Drapchi Prison (Tibet Autonomous Regional Prison No. 1) has become notorious for episodes of torture and abuse inflicted on Tibetan political prisoners. Severe beatings and torture with electric batons are used to enforce prison rules and regulations. Tibetan nuns have been subjected to acts of rape and public degradation. On May 1 and 4, 1998, during Chinese flag-raising ceremonies, several prisoners shouted slogans in support of Tibet's exiled leader, the Dalai Lama. Participants suffered a cruel punishment at the hands of security officials who used rifle butts, iron rods, electric batons and belt buckles to inflict severe beatings on the protesters. A total of nine prisoners died as a result of the beatings following the demonstrations. This is only one incident in an ongoing pattern of appalling repression and blatant denial of the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people.

"For lay people, the situation in Tibet is deteriorating every day. Anyone who dares utter a word about Tibetan independence or human rights for Tibet is imprisoned for 'endangering state security'. Sometimes, people try to distribute leaflets or print posters, but the punishments are severe and one has only to be suspected of such activities to be arrested . . ."

_______1. Time (to collect items for auction)