Melody in Prison: Ngawang Choephel
	UPDATE 26 October 1998

The following news story (slightly edited) was released by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), based in Dharamsala, India. Together with the International Campaign for Tibet and the Free Tibet Campaign-UK, TCHRD is a sponsor of Sonam Dekyi's tour in the United States.

Sonam Dekyi was given a warm reception by her son's friends at Middlebury College in Vermont after making a long trip from India to share her passion for her son with his friends and supporters. Ngawang Choephel studied in Middlebury College as a Fulbright scholar in 1994.

Ngawang Choephel is known among his college friends as a calm and dedicated student of music. Upon hearing the news of his imprisonment, Ngawang's friends in the college have led campaigns for his release. "As a student at Middlebury, Ngawang touched the lives of many at the college as well the surrounding community. When he was arrested for simply documenting his disappearing musical tradition, Ngawang's friends at Middlebury and throughout Vermont sprung into action", said US Congressman Bernie Sanders while addressing a gathering of students at the Mead Memorial Chapel, Middlebury College.

Congressman Sanders further stated, "Three weeks ago, China signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right of self-determination, prohibits torture and provides for freedom of movement, religion, expression and association. China has signed many of these agreements in the past, hoping to appease the United States. As we have witnessed in Ngawang's imprisonment, China is in violation of almost every article of these human rights agreements they sign by the cartload. The US must take a strong stand against China's long record of flagrant and outrageous human rights abuses. We have been duped by China's human rights promises for too long. We must look for a new approach."

Speaking about his relation with Ngawang Choephel, Jon Barlow, former President of the Students for Free Tibet and a friend of Ngawang, said, "He was a loving person who was always involved in learning and promoting traditional music of Tibet."

In his absence, his secretary Ms. Rene, delivered Senator James M. Jeffords's statement. The message reads, "I was privileged to meet with Sonam Dekyi in Washington two weeks ago. Her strength of character and depth of emotion for her son made it one of the most powerful and emotional meetings of my Senate career. There was hardly a dry eye in the room following our discussions, and I am sure that I speak for the other members of the Vermont delegation when I say that Sonam Dekyi helped us rededicate ourselves to the cause of freeing Ngawang. We will not rest until he is free, and most immediately, we will not let up our pressure on the Chinese Government until they respect the laws on their own books and allow Sonam Dekyi to visit her son,"

Sonam Dekyi in her speech expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the students and the senators for their support and appealed for their continued support until her son is released from prison. The audience gave Sonam Dekyi a very emotional standing ovation. Students signed petitions and many came forward to thank Ms. Dekyi for her courage and assured her of their continued support.

Sonam Dekyi also met her son's piano teacher. The teacher was very moved by meeting her and said, "I am very honoured to meet you in person and Ngawang has very special memory in my heart. He was very different from all my students. He had great passion for music and was very fast in learning music."

Tsering Norzom, acting as translator and representing the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, thanked the students and teachers for their wholehearted support and expressed her optimism that with their continued support, Sonam Dekyi will be able to meet her son very soon.

Sonam Dekyi and Tsering Norzom left for England on October 25 and will now travel through several European countries to campaign for Ngawang Choephel's release.