Jigme Gyatso

I was born in Bartha in the Sangchu district in the Kansu province in 1959. My mother's name is Khado Tso. My father died fighting against the Chinese in 1959. When I was very young I attended a primary school, but most of my time was spent at home with my mother.

In 1982 I was ordained as a monk at Tashi Kyil monastery in Amdo. In 1985 I travelled to Lhasa and from there escaped into exile. There, I joined the Gomang College of Drepung University and studied Buddhist philosophy.

At the end of 1986 I returned to Tibet, and a year later, I joined Ganden monastery in Lhasa. At Gaden I organised numerous political programs.

In 1991 and 1992 we founded a secret political organisation to free Tibet. In 1992 a colleague of mine was arrested by the Chinese and later expelled from the monastery. So I had to hide.

In my home town too, the Chinese were suspicious of my involvement in the political struggle and went to search for me. I had been travelling to different parts of the three regions of Tibet, launching political campaigns.

On March 30 1996 at around 6:30 pm, I was arrested by the Chinese police at a restaurant in front of the Jokhang temple in Lhasa. I was taken to the police station for interrogation and later imprisoned in Gutsa prison. With my hands chained and my feet in shackles, the police interrogated and beat me the whole night. At Gutsa, both my hands were tied behind my back and the persecution was unthinkable.

In prison, I was subjected to an intensive and thorough investigation and interrogation for six months. After that I was formally charged. After a year's imprisonment, the Chinese sentenced me to a 15 year term and I was then moved to Drapchi prison.

At the end of September 1997, security personnel from the Kansu province came to Drapchi prison. They took me to the main security bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region where I was subjected to nine days' interrogation. Worse, they tied me up with a rope and hung me from the wall. They hit me many times with empty beer bottles.

When I was taken back to Drapchi, my cell mate had to foster me like a child -- supporting my body when I went out and helping me to return to the cell. Due to excessive beatings, I was chronically sick.

The core issue of Chinese interrogation was to find out who spearheaded the independence for Tibet campaign in the Dome region (Amdo) of Tibet.

From May 1st to 4th there were large-scale uprisings against the Chinese in which I participated. I received very harsh beatings for my involvement. Even my skull was damaged due to continual beatings. Yet no visitors were allowed to meet me for three months.

I am proud of being a Tibetan. I cherish a strong patriotic feeling. So, I devoted my time, resources, and energy to the struggle for my country. At times when I had not even a penny, I received money from friends and acquaintances and kept my work going.

During the court hearing, I confessed with pride to having launched the independence campaign. When questioned whether I regretted my acts, I retorted that I launched the struggle after due and careful deliberation, so the question of regret did not arise. I further added that history is the witness and support for my campaign for Tibet's independence and right to self-determination.