Eleven nuns from Garu Nunnery, arrested on 14 June 1993 in Lhasa, have been sentenced to long prison terms for their alleged part in a demonstration. According to unofficial sources Ngawang Dedrol and Phuntsog Choekyi were sentenced to 7 years each; Ngawang Keldron to five years; Gyaltsen Sangmo and Ngawang Chendrol (also known as Ngawang Peldrol) to three years, and Gyaltsen Kelsang to two years. The sentences passed against the remaining nuns, Rinchen Drolma, Ngawang Chime, Ngawang Choekyi and Ngawang Palmo are not known. There is concern that they may be prisoners of conscience. The nuns were taken to Drapchi Prison in Lhasa, officially known as the Tibet Autonomous Region Prison no 1. There is also concern at the reported arrest of Gyaltsen Pelsang, a 15-year-old novice. There is no further news about Tenzin Dekyong, a 16-year-old novice, detained on 13 March 1993.
