What is Gu Chu Sum?

The Gu-Chu-Sum (9-10-3) Movement of Tibet was established on September 27, 1991 in Dharamsala, India by ex-political prisoners of the Tibetan freedom movement. Initially organised by monks, nuns, and lay people, the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement grew out of the earnest, heartfelt wish to help the suffering Tibetans remaining in prisons in Tibet and to provide needed support to ex-political prisoners who have journeyed into exile. Gu-Chu-Sum is endorsed by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Government-In-Exile, and the Indian Government. All 430 members of Gu-Chu-Sum are former political prisoners.
The Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet was named according to the months in which major demonstrations occurred in Lhasa. "Gu" is for September 27, 1987, "Chu" is for October 1, 1987, and "Sum" is for March 5, 1988. On these dates major demonstrations were carried out by the three main monasteries in Lhasa, and the monks who participated were suppressed mercilessly by the Chinese Army. These monks were imprisoned for their efforts to regain Tibetan freedom and were brutally tortured, physically maimed, and often forced to do back-breaking labour while being fed starvation rations. Many of those tortured succumbed to their injuries and either died in prison or were released so that their families would have to deal with their relative's deaths. Currently, more than 130 prisoners of conscience are suffering torture, cold and starvation in Chinese prisons in Tibet.

Our Activities

We aim to follow the main agenda discussed during the general body meeting and administer the following daily activities:-

•     Informing the international community of the facts about Tibet and how      many Tibetans are suffering under Chinese rule
•      Supporting political prisoners in Tibet
•      Supporting ex-political prisoners in exile
•      Collaboration with other NGOs
•      Organising talks and meetings with ex-political prisoners
•    Maintaining an extensive database on political prisoners and their          treatment in Tibet
•   Publishing an annual magazine 'Tibetan Envoy' (Phonya) and 'Tibetan  Envoy Newsletter' quarterly in both Tibetan and English languages
•      Publishing autobiographies of ex-political prisoners
•      Holding photographic exhibitions in different locations
•      Helping obtain healthcare for former political prisoners
•      Organising campaigns for the release of political prisoners
•      Providing a one-year computer and language course to our students along with residential accommodation at GuChuSum
•      Generating income for our activities by running a Tailoring Shop creating handmade Tibetan clothing

Informing the international community of the facts about Tibet and how many Tibetans are suffering under Chinese rule:

Throughout the year we report on new developments in Tibet, especially news about political prisoners. We organise talks led by ex-political prisoners so as to make more people aware of the suffering and anguish of Tibetans. We also publish the magazine 'Tibetan Envoy' once a year in both Tibetan and English. We have published a biography of nine ex-political prisoners in Tibetan and intend to translate them into English soon. We would also like to publish more biographies of ex-political prisoners. To provide accurate information on these various subjects, we are constantly updating our extensive database.

Supporting political prisoners in Tibet:

GuChuSum provides much needed assistance to political prisoners who continue to suffer in Chinese prisons within Tibet. We provide financial and moral support for these prisoners as well as to their families and organise campaigns working for their release.

Supporting ex-political prisoners in exile:

We provide the basic needs to the recently arrived former prisoners including housing, employment, medical care, education, job training, and economic assistance. Our goal is to meet the immediate needs while fostering ultimate self-sufficiency and self-reliance. At our new premises, Lung-ta House, we can accommodate about fifty people and we aim to give work experience to as many ex-political prisoners as possible.

We have a library for use by the office staff and students. Nearby members can also use the library.Our cafeteria facility is used for the staff, trainees, and students, as well as for the members who come for treatment. All the members who come from the outside can have free food. During Monlam and other important teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, all the members who live outside Dharamsala can stay and have food at GuChuSum. Daily we have around eighty people who use our cafeteria facility.

Collaboration with other NGOs:

There are eight Tibetan NGOs in Dharamsala. Several times a year we organise, in collaboration with other NGOs, events such as peace marches, processions, letter writing campaigns, candle light vigils and hunger strikes. We also exchange information as much as possible so that we can all stay in touch with what is really happening in Tibet.

Organising talks and meetings with ex-political prisoners:

We regularly hold talks by ex-political prisoners at various places in Dharamsala and various educational centres and Tibetan settlements in India. These talks give a very vivid and human picture of prison life in Tibet and help to inform people about the atrocities occurring in Tibet under Chinese rule.

Maintaining an extensive database on political prisoners and their treatment in Tibet:

GuChuSum collects and releases information about political prisoners. It maintains a database on current and former political prisoners and also documents the death cases. We also collect testimonies from political prisoners who have escaped into exile. Through its networks in Tibet, Gu-Chu-Sum receives and disseminates information on political prisoners in Tibet and the conditions of those just released.

Publishing an annual magazine 'Tibetan Envoy' (Phonya) and 'Tibetan Envoy Newsletter' quarterly in both Tibetan and English languages:

Every year we publish the 'Tibetan Envoy,' an annual magazine which highlights the atrocities that are happening in prisons in Tibet today. So far we have published 9 volumes. 'Tibetan Envoy' in published in both English and Tibetan. The magazine contains the latest news about current and released political prisoners. It also contains a frequently updated report on current prisoners in Tibet and other information regarding GuChuSum activities.

Since September 2004, we have published the 'Tibetan Envoy Newsletter' every three months in both Tibetan and English. We have also published special reports on certain issues like, 'The Tragic Fate of Bangri Rinpoche' and 'Gyatso Orphanage School.'

Publishing autobiographies of ex-political prisoners:

1. Life experience of Reting Tenpa Tsering
2. Freedom and Tears - Phuntsok Wangchuk
3. Ceaseless Tears and Blood - Drapchi Prison (description of Drapchi Prison)
4. Life, In Search of Truth - Tenpa Phulchung
5. The Path Crossed by Our Ancestors - Kunsang Rinzin
6. The Courage to Rebel against Oppressors - Lobsang Tenzin
7. Discussing the Vicissitudes of My Long Life - Ven. Thupten Tsering
8. Struggle of Three Generations - Sonam Choedon
9. The compiled works of Professor Lobsang Wangchuk
   
10. I and My Brother - Tsering Sonam
    
11. A Farmer's Diary - Rigzin Choenyi
    
12. True Story of an Oldwoman - Dolma Choezom
13. Lhaimie Yuloe Ngulthig - Yulo Trulku Dawa Tsering
14. The Son of Mount Everest  -  Dingri Ngawang
    

Holding photographic exhibitions in different locations:

We have organized photo exhibitions and talks in different locations all over India. In the past few years, we have organised exhibitions in Bodhgaya, Hamirpur, and Chandigarh. These exhibitions depict the pain and agony of the Tibetan people, destruction of the Tibetan environment, as well as instruments used for torture, and others.
We have conference hall cum photo-exhibition room on the third floor of our building. There are more than 200 rare photo collections depicting the 1980s demonstrations, wounded protestors, torture instruments, deforestation and His Holiness' journey into exile.

Helping obtain healthcare for former political prisoners:

GuChuSum looks after the healthcare of political prisoners both in exile and Tibet. We advise them on where to get proper medical treatment, send helpers with them when necessary, and reimburse medical and travel expenses. The helpers assist in communicating with medical staff in Hindi, as well as helping to take care of the patient's general needs.

Organising campaigns for the release of political prisoners:

Throughout the year, we organise several campaigns for the release of political prisoners through petition letters, campaign post cards and other media.

Providing a one-year computer and language course to our students along with residential accommodation at GuChuSum:

The most important way to assist refugees is to provide education in accordance with the new environment. We provide language proficiency, basic computer skills, employment skills, and self-confidence to assist in their reintegration into the community, as well as to encourage their self-reliance.

Since April 2000, our school has been conducting a one-year course for former political prisoners and their family members. We teach basic computer skills, English, and Tibetan. The school has the capacity to accommodate 20 students and all students stay as boarders. After completing one year of schooling, many of our students become employed in various offices in our community.

Generating income for our activities by running a Tailoring Centre & Shop, producing quality handmade Tibetan clothing:

Tailoring Centre:The GuChuSum tailoring centre was established in 1991 to provide job training and employment to ex-political prisoners. In the beginning, it employed only a few tailors, but at present, it employs around twenty tailors, most of them being women. Currently, there are two tailoring centres with one in Mcleod Ganj and one on the premises of GuChuSum. These tailors can create monk's robes, Tibetan traditional clothes, bags, and various gift items, like small pouches, etc. We also take bulk orders according to your samples, make prayers flags, Tibetan national flags, etc.

Lungta Restaurant:Lungta Japanese Restaurant, a popular Japanese restaurant in Mcleod Ganj serves traditional Japanese vegetarian cuisine from a part of Lung-Ta house. Several former political prisoners are trained in Japanese cuisine and are employed as chefs. Here they learn the art of Japanese cooking as well as communication skills. This is one way many ex political prisoners are able to sustain themselves by doing something productive. Part of the proceeds from the restaurant go to the care and running of GuChuSum.     

People who helped us along the way
Our thanks to the local Indian community and local government, volunteers, Tibetan friends and the Japanese charity Lungta.