Thupten Yeshi

Thupten Yeshi aged 43 was born at Tashi Khangsar family in Meldro Gungkar. He went to school from the age of 8 until 14. After that he worked on a farm and stayed at home.

In 1990, the Chinese Mining Office was ready to exploit minerals from the Gyama Shang. At a group meeting, Thupten Yeshi fearlessly said that the people of Gyama Shang should protest against the mining activities that the Chinese were about start. He said, "We protest against you starting mining activities because it is without any concern for Tibetan culture, and will destroy the Tibetan environment. You should hold yourself responsible for causing any natural destruction that we might endure in the future." He said this at the top of his voice without any fear.

After that, the Chinese authorities started a big reform campaign in Gyama Shang. The Chinese narrated the merits of socialism and tried to fool the Tibetans into believing that Tibet is a part of China. They tried to entice the Tibetans living in Gyama Shang into their own world of lies and deception.

Thupten Yeshi, with the concern for his nation at the top of his mind, even sacrificed his precious life for the Tibetan people and their freedom. He did his best in whatever capacity for the cause of Tibet’s freedom.

The Work Team of Gyama Shang called a meeting of all the people to present a report on a re-education campaign on socialism as well as the selection of officials on the 12th day of the 6th Tibetan month in 1992. Thupten knew about this meeting beforehand and planned a peaceful protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. For that, he needed a Tibetan national flag. So he asked his friend Samten Gyatso, to prepare a Tibetan national flag, and Samten made one.

At around 9 o’clock in the morning on the 12th day of the 6th month of 1992, Thupten Yeshi met with his friends Sonam Rinchen, Sonam Dorje, Konchok Lodoe, and Sonam Phuntsok at his house. All of them were well aware of the fact that they would be arrested immediately for raising slogans at the meeting. Thupten Yeshi also decided beforehand that once in the prison, he would take all the responsibility for whatever the Chinese charged them with. They then proceeded to the meeting. They unfurled the flag up in the air and marched shouting slogans: "Tibet is free," "Chinese Quit Tibet," and "May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live long."

The Public Security Bureau (PSB) and Work Team of Meldro Gungkar county arrested Thupten Yeshi along with his companions Sonam Rinchen, Kunchok Lodoe, Sonam Dorje, Sonam Phuntsok, Samten Gyatso, and Lhaksam Dorjee. They were detained in the county Public Security Bureau jail. They were tortured mercilessly. They were also put into solitary confinement and interrogated several times. After that, they were transferred to Gutsa prison which lies to the east of Lhasa. Samten Gyatso and Lhaksam Dorjee were released.

In the 10th month of 1992, those remaining were tried by the Lhasa City Intermediate People’s Court and sentenced. Thupten Yeshi was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment under Article 102 of People’s Republic of China’s Penal Code for inciting and leading counter-revolutionary activities. Sonam Rinchen was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Kunchok Lodoe, Sonam Dorjee, and Sonam Phuntsok were each sentenced to 13 years in prison. All of them were sentenced to imprisonment in Drapchi prison. All of them are still serving their sentences.