DATE=3/15/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42855
TITLE=TIBET TORTURE SURVIVORS
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FORTY YEARS AGO THOUSANDS OF TIBETANS DIED AND THOUSANDS
MORE FLED THEIR HOMELAND FOLLOWING A BRIEF-AND-FUTILE UPRISING
AGAINST CHINESE FORCES WHO HAD OCCUPIED TIBET SINCE 1950.
FOLLOWING THE REVOLT MANY TIBETANS SETTLED IN THE NORTHERN INDIAN
TOWN OF DHARAMSALA -- NESTLED IN THE HIMALAYAN FOOTHILLS. NOW,
40 YEARS LATER, TIBETANS CONTINUE TO FLEE TO DHARAMSALA. AMONG
THOSE WHO FLEE ARE SOME WHO SHOW SIGNS OF TORTURE. V-O-A'S JIM
TEEPLE REPORTS FOR THE VICTIMS OF TORTURE, THERE IS A SPECIAL
PROGRAM IN DHARAMSALA DESIGNED TO HEAL THEIR BODIES AND MINDS.
TEXT: ABOUT 200 TO 300 NEW TIBETAN REFUGEES SHOW UP EVERY MONTH
IN DHARAMSALA. ACCORDING TO TIBETAN EXILES WHO RUN THE TIBETAN
TORTURE SURVIVORS PROGRAM AS MANY AS FIVE PERCENT OF THE REFUGEES
HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF TORTURE BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
YUSEF NAIX IS A TIBETAN MUSLIM WHO HELPS TO RUN THE TIBETAN
TORTURE SURVIVORS PROGRAM. HE SAYS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES HEAR
TERRIBLE STORIES FROM SOME OF THE SURVIVORS.
// INSERT NAIX ACTUALITY //
THEY USE ELECTRIC RODS ON THEM. THEY KICK AND RAPE THE
NUNS AND DON'T GIVE THEM FOOD FOR DAYS.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE TIBETAN TORTURE SURVIVORS PROGRAM HEALS BROKEN BODIES AND
BROKEN MINDS. ESTABLISHED IN 1994 THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT
FOR THOSE TIBETAN REFUGEES WHO SHOW SIGNS OF TORTURE. UGEN DAMUL
IS A SOCIAL WORKER WITH THE TORTURE SURVIVORS PROGRAM THAT IS RUN
BY THE TIBETAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH . HE
SAYS THE PROGRAM TRIES TO OFFER AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE.
// INSERT DANDUL ACTUALITY //
WE PROVIDE SOCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH MONTHLY STIPENDS. WE
ALSO GIVE FREE MEDICATION AND WE ALSO HAVE A HOME VISIT
PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN OFFER COUNSELING.
// END ACTUALITY //
THOSE WHO RUN THE PROGRAM SAY MANY OF THOSE THEY TREAT NEED A
GREAT DEAL OF COUNSELING BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPERIENCES IN CHINESE
DETENTION. THEY SAY TIBETAN MONKS AND NUNS ARE SINGLED OUT FOR
SPECIAL ABUSE BY BEING FORCED TO ENDURE LONG HOURS AND EVEN DAYS
COVERED IN EXCREMENT OR URINE -- A PUNISHMENT DESIGNED TO DESTROY
THEIR SENSE OF PURITY. THERE IS ALSO PHYSICAL TORTURE ALTHOUGH
NOT AS MUCH AS IN YEARS PAST. FIONA LINDSAY IS A
PHYSIOTHERAPIST WHO WORKS WITH TORTURE SURVIVORS. SHE SAYS HER
PATIENTS SUFFER FROM A VARIETY OF AILMENTS BECAUSE OF THE ABUSE
THEY HAVE RECEIVED.
// INSERT LINDSAY ACTUALITY //
PHYSICALLY, THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT CONDITIONS THEY
SUFFER FROM EITHER FROM BEATINGS ON THEIR BACKS FROM
RIFLE BUTTS. A LOT OF THEM HAVE RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS,
A LOT OF THEM HAVE SHOULDER PROBLEMS FROM BEING
SUSPENDED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL
REHAB IS SIMILAR TO THE SORT OF REHAB FOR THESE
CONDITIONS YOU WOULD FIND IN THE WEST, BUT THERE'S ALSO
A LOT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING THAT GOES WITH IT.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE TIBETAN TORTURE SURVIVORS PROGRAM USES A MIX OF PHYSICAL
THERAPY, PSYCHOTHERAPY AND TRADITIONAL TIBETAN MEDICINE TO TREAT
ITS PATIENTS. THERE IS ALSO JOB-TRAINING AND FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO HELP SURVIVORS START NEW LIVES IN DHARAMSALA OR
ELSEWHERE IF THEY CHOOSE. THOSE WHO RUN THE PROGRAM SAY IT WORKS
FOR MOST SURVIVORS, BUT SOME WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THE PHYSICAL
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE THEY RECEIVED IN DETENTION.
//REST OPT// IN A SMALL HOUSE IN DHARAMSALA A YOUNG WOMAN WHO
ASKS THAT SHE BE CALLED NIMA TAKES CARE OF HER AGING MOTHER AND
YOUNG CHILD. NIMA SAYS SHE WAS PICKED UP BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES
AND TORTURED FOR DAYS AFTER SHE WAS CAUGHT HANDING OUT LEAFLETS
CALLING FOR A FREE TIBET.
// INSERT TIBETAN ACTUALITY //
NIMA SAYS BEFORE SHE WAS PICKED UP SHE WAS A HEALTHY YOUNG WOMAN
BUT THE BEATINGS SHE RECEIVED SEVERELY DAMAGED HER KIDNEYS AND
NOW SHE SUFFERS FROM A VARIETY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS. SHE SAYS THE
TIBETAN TORTURE SURVIVORS PROGRAM HAS HELPED HER FIND HOUSING AND
WORK, BUT IT CANNOT FIX HER KIDNEYS OR RESTORE HER HEALTH.
TIBET'S SPIRITUAL LEADER, THE DALAI LAMA, SAID RECENTLY HE IS
SEEING A NOTICEABLE HARDENING OF THE CHINESE POSITION IN TIBET
ACCOMPANIED BY A NEW ROUND OF WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS INTENSE
REPRESSION. WITH THAT IN MIND TIBET'S SPIRITUAL LEADER IS NOW
TELLING HIS FOLLOWERS TO DENOUNCE HIM RATHER THAN SUFFER
DETENTION AND TORTURE, SAYING AFTER ALL BODIES CANNOT ALWAYS BE
REPAIRED BUT THE HEART IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/KL
15-Mar-99 8:24 AM EST (1324 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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