Lhundup Phuntsok, 32, from Drepung Monastery, was arrested March 10, 2008, during demonstrations in Lhasa. His body was handed over to family members in late August. No news of another monk from the same monastery held for over a year in police custody.

Dharamsala (AsiaNews) - A Tibetan monk from Drepung monastery died from torture during detention. The Buddhist religious was arrested during the riots in Lhasa in March 2008, which caused the deaths of hundreds of Tibetans and the arrest of thousands more.   

The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) announced today that it has received reports from reliable sources that the monk Phuntsok Lhundup (secular name: Kalden - see photo), 32 years, from the village n.8 of Tos-doe, Phenpo Lhundup County, near Lhasa died while in prison due to torture. He is believed toh ave died in mid-August. His family received the lifeless body of their relative at the end of August.

On 10 March 2008 Phuntsok, along with 300 other monks at the Drepung Monastery attended a peaceful march to protest against Chinese policy in Tibet. He and dozens of monks were arrested by security forces.

Since his arrest until a few days ago nothing was heard of him. Nobody, not even his family or fellow monks from the monastery have ever received any information about his detention.

According to TCHRD sources, Phuntsok died in prison in mid-August, suffering torture, abuse and isolation. The same sources point out that a brother monk of Phuntsok Samdup, also from Drepung Monastery, and also arrested on 10 March 2008. Nothing has been heard of him either.

 

 

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