Amnesty International
Prisoner of Conscience

Ngawang Pekar

Amnesty International works to release prisoners of conscience such as Ngawang Pekar. In 1996, the Pasadena, California chapter undertook a long-term commitment to Ngawang Pekar's case. Recently we received the following letter from Amnesty's International Secretariat in London, dated 5 September 2003:

Dear Friends,

I'm writing with the good news that Ngawang Pekar was released from Tibet Autonomous Region Prison Number One (Drapchi Prison). We presumed him released at the end of his fourteen-year sentence on 3 March 2003, but we received unofficial reports suggesting that he has been out of prison for the last couple of years. Ngawang Sandrol, a Tibetan nun, herself released on 17 October 2002 on 'good behavior parole' from Drapchi prison, confirmed that Ngawang Pekar is free in Lhasa. Other reports indicate that he is making a living as a pecha (text) chanter, but he is not allowed to re-enter a monastery. These reports seem reliable, but we have not been able to assess whether Ngawang Pekar was indeed released earlier, and if so for what reason.

We will of course let you know if we are able to obtain any further clarification, but in the meantime we will close the action file. No further action is requested at this stage.

I'd like to thank you for all your work on Ngawang Pekar's case, which may well have helped to improve his living conditions at Drapchi and secure his prompt release.

Yours sincerely,

Liz Davidson
China Team