Doctors declare political prisoner’s torture injuries beyond treatment

Norzin Wangmo, a Tibetan political prisoner and mother of three children, is in critical condition after being denied access to immediate medical treatment. In June, the month after her release, she sought admission at Markham, Kyegudo and Xining People’s Hospitals, but doctors have declared her injuries to be beyond treatment.

A Tibetan source confirmed that she is currently in near-death condition at Xining Hospital. She is in her thirties and her children, aged between two to five, are now being cared for by her husband.

Norzin Wangmo is originally from Chigril Township in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. She was arrested in May 2020 and accused of sharing information with Tibetans in exile about the self-immolation of Tenzin Sherab.

The exact date of Norzin’s detention is not currently known, but it has been established that she was interrogated for 24 hours while in police custody. The next day was the only time her family was granted access to meet her. The meeting was brief, and she was in handcuffs, surrounded by police. Even on that day, her family was not allowed to give her food and clothes.

Her trial took place in secret in May 2020 at Chumarleb County People’s Court, where she was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison.

Torture and forced labour

While serving her sentence, Norzin Wangmo was forced to undergo reform through labour, and was subjected to torture. The abuse inflicted on her in Kyegudo Women’s Prison has resulted in her current health condition. While in prison she was beaten with an electric baton, leaving her with bruises all over her body. After her release, she was no longer able to stand on her own feet and needed support on both sides to get up and walk.

Norzin’s homeland is in Chumarleb County, in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The county is also part of Hoh Xil Nature Reserve which was controversially nominated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 2017, despite concerns about the forced resettlement of Tibetan nomads.

Information supplied by Tibet Watch