Chinese hand suspected in disappearance of former Tibetan political prisoner from Lhasa after peaceful protest
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, Feb 2: Former Tibetan political prisoner Lodoe Gyatso has disappeared after staging a peaceful protest in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital on Jan 28, less than two years after his release.
Lodoe Gyatso, also known as Sogkhar Lodoe Gyatso has disappeared since Jan 28 after his peaceful protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet at the Potala ground in Lhasa.
While his whereabouts and condition still remain unknown following his disappearance, sources have told Tibet Express that his family members suspect Chinese hand behind his disappearance.
Gyatso, 56 years old was formerly arrested in 1991 on alleged murder charges and sentenced to 15 years in Drapchi prison. While serving his sentence, he led a protest in the prison against China’s occupation of Tibet, called for Tibet’s independence and shouted slogans calling for His Holiness’ long life and unity of the Tibetan people on March 4, 1995.
Following his protest, the prison officials wrote to the court and pressed for his death sentence but after repeated appeals by the Amnesty International and United Nations for Clemency, Chinese authorities waved off the death sentence and Gyatso was sentenced to six additional years.
After completing his 21 years’ sentence and enduring callous torture, Gyatso at the age of 52 was released in poor health from the notorious Chushul prison on outskirt of the Tibetan capital city Lhasa on May 2, 2013 only to be rearrested later on May 14, 2016 on unknown charges. He was released on July 19, 2016 yet again in poor health after his second sentence having endured callous torture in Chinese prison camps.