Ven. Ngawang Phulchung was released from Chushul Prison around October 21, 2007. The release came six months before his sentence was due to expire, and marked the end of one of the longest imprisonments of any political prisoner in Tibet. Ngawang is currently reported to be with his family in Toelung Dechen County, but is in very poor health due to torture and inhumane treatment he suffered in prison.
Case History
Following peaceful demonstrations by Drepung monks in 1987, the Drepung printing group was discovered and remained under constant surveillance by the Chinese authorities in 1988. For a time the group managed to continue publishing their work, but in September 1988 the Chinese began a re-education program at the monastery.