Melody in Prison: Ngawang Choephel
	UPDATE 10 January 1997

Ngawang Choepel's mother, Sonam Dekyi, learned of his sentence through a news story broadcast by the Voice of America shortly after the event. Below is the text of her first public response, a statement released in a press conference held at Kanishka Hotel, New Delhi, India, on January 10, 1997.

With profound grief and sadness, I the aged mother of an imprisoned son, have come here from the Tibetan refugee camp of Mundgod, South India to address the media. I hope that through you, the governments of the world and the international community will be informed of the woeful story of an old Tibetan mother. I appeal to all of you to save my only son Ngawang Choephel who is presently imprisoned in Tibet.

My son Ngawang Choephel was 2 years old when I brought him to India in 1968 hoping that he would receive a decent education in-exile. From the age of 13, he was very keen to study Tibetan arts and culture. Through his determination and hard work he has been able to achieve his ambition. He studied Tibetan music and dance from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and later taught in Tibetan schools in south India. I was very happy when my son was selected for further studies in music at Middlebury college in U.S.A. I was sure he would do his best to preserve the culture of our people.

Being a single parent to my child, I have devoted my whole life in caring and educating Ngawang Choephel. I love him very much and he is my only hope and am wholly dependent on him. I am now 59 years old and ever since I heard the news of his detention, my health has deteriorated. I am suffering from tuberculosis and the mental distress caused by my son's imprisonment is further worsening my health condition.

I am certain that the Chinese government's charges against my son are totally baseless. They have accused my son of spying for the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. But the Tibetan government did not send him to Tibet. Being his mother, I am the only person in this world who knows my son very closely. Ngawang is interested only in traditional Tibetan music and has spent most of his 30 years in the pursuit of Tibetan music and dance.

When he left home in June 1995 he told me he was going to Ladakh and would return home in October. But he did not come. In early November I went to several Tibetan settlements in India to search for him. Later in November I went to Nepal but could not find him. He did not want me to know about his visit to Tibet lest I may be worried. I would not have allowed him if I knew about his visit. It is natural for a mother to be concerned about her son's life.

I want to ask the Chinese government what has my son done to receive 18 years sentence? Everyone knows that he was in Tibet to make a video film on Tibetan folk songs and dances. Does this constitute a crime under Chinese law? Being the mother, I have the right to ask about my son's trial. The Chinese government has kept the trial totally secret. They said my son "confessed" to their charges. It is ridiculous. There is no ground for confession. I am worried that after inflicting severe torture they might have forced my son to confess.

I am aging and my health is worsening day by day. I long to see my only son before I die. I wrote a letter to the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi on December 5, 1996, requesting permission to visit my son.

There has been no response. I again visited the Chinese Embassy yesterday and met the First Secretary, Mr. Huo Zhongquan. He said it will take at least three to four months to seek permission from the authorities in "Tibetan Autonomous Region". I cannot wait that long. I am old and ill. My son was detained for over a year without any charges since September 1995. In October, 1996 the Chinese authorities acknowledged of his detention and sentenced him to 18 years on December 26, 1996. I am worried and do not know what to do.

Please help me save my only son.

I take this opportunity to request governments of the world and the international community, in particular the Government of India, to prevail upon the Chinese government to allow me to visit my son in prison before I die. This is my fervent desire and I hope I can see him soon.

Thank You All for your understanding and patience.

(Sonam Dekyi)

Letter to the Chinese Embassy

January 9, 1997

H.E. the Ambassador
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
50-D, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi 110 021

Your Excellency,

This appeal letter of mine is a follow up to my earlier letter dated December 5, 1996. Recently I came to know that on December 26, 1996, my son, Ngawang Choephel, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Intermediate People's Court of Shigatse, Tibet.

I am extremely disheartened and saddened by the news that your government has sentenced my only son to so many years of imprisonment, simply for visiting Tibet to document the rich Tibetan tradition of music and dance. My son had no political motives while visiting Tibet as has been charged by the Chinese court. I can only assure you that he did not visit Tibet to spy for the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. He travelled to Tibet on his own accord and was not instigated by any individual and organisation.

Since Ngawang is my only child, his detention has caused me immense pain and suffering. I had never dreamt that the fate of my son would eventually result in his imprisonment in Tibet. At present I am suffering from tuberculosis and my health continues to deteriorate as the days prolong.

Your Excellency, as a human being, I am sure you can understand the pain and suffering I am undergoing today. Please help me to visit my son in prison. As ill as I am, my urgent desire is to see my son before I die. I only have one son - he is my heart and soul. He is all important to me. Please help me visit my son.

I once again humbly request Your Excellency to grant me permission to visit Tibet as soon as possible. I fervently hope that Your Excellency will not disappoint a mother to meet her only son.

Humbly yours,

Sonam Dekyi
c/o House No 30, Village No 2,
Tibetan Settlement
MUNDGOD, North Kanara
Karnataka State (India)