Namkyi, a Tibetan woman who was recently released from Chinese prison, shared her distressing experiences during her incarceration and her eventual escape to exile. Her story sheds light on the severe conditions faced by Tibetans under Chinese governance.
Born to a nomadic family in Ngaba County, Tibet, Namkyi grew up without formal education, learning about Tibet’s troubled history through family stories. On October 21, 2015, inspired by the tales of oppression and the desire for freedom, Namkyi and her sister Tenzin Dolma took to the streets of Ngaba, publicly calling for Tibetan independence and the return of Tibetan spiritual leaders. They carried portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a symbolic gesture of resistance against Chinese suppression.
The protest was short-lived, as Chinese police swiftly detained the sisters. According to the details shared on Tibet.net, Namkyi recounted the harsh treatment they received during their capture and subsequent interrogation. The sisters endured physical and mental torture, aimed at extracting information about their motivations and potential external influences.
After spending over a year in detention, Namkyi and her sister were tried and convicted on charges of separatism, each receiving a three-year prison sentence. They were transferred to a women’s prison in Chengdu, where they underwent forced “patriotic education” and labor.
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Namkyi described the difficult conditions in prison, including hard labor, malnutrition, and discrimination. Despite these challenges, she and her sister remained cut off from their family, who were also harassed by Chinese authorities.
Upon completing their sentences, the sisters were released but remained under surveillance. On May 13, 2023, Namkyi, along with her aunt, fled Tibet, eventually reaching safety in Dharamshala, India, where they received support from the Tibetan exile community.
During a media interaction, Namkyi voiced her concerns about the ongoing repression in Tibet and the lack of international awareness and intervention. “I had significant concerns while wondering if the United Nations and other foreign governments know the truth of our tragic daily situations and torments of Tibetan people inside Tibet,” Namkyi expressed, as reported by Tibet.net.
Namkyi’s story not only highlights the personal sacrifices made by individuals like herself but also calls for greater international attention and action towards the plight of the Tibetan people.
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