Tibetan political prisoner released early after serving over 6 years in jail

DHARAMSALA, May 9: A Tibetan political prisoner was released after serving over 6 years in Chinese prison in eastern Tibet.

Sonam Yarphel, a native of Dhilyue Village in Chogri Township in Drango County in Sichuan’s Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP) was released on May 7 after serving six years and one month in prison for sending information about Tibetan protests in Chogri Township where thousands of Tibetans protested against Chinese rule on March 23-24 during the pan-Tibet uprising of 2008.

On his return home, hundreds of monks and lay Tibetans of his hometown offered him traditional Tibetan scarves (Khatag) and gave him a hero’s welcome.

Intermediate People’s Court of Kardze TAP sentenced Sonam Yarphel to 12 years’ imprisonment on April 9, 2009 for sending information abroad on Tibetan protests in the region. Sonam was 28 at the time of his sentencing.

The reason for his early release after serving six years and one month of the original sentence could not be ascertained.