Lobsang THARGYAL, Tashi GYALTSEN, Jampel GYATSO, Tsultrim PHELGYAL, Tsesum SAMTEN

D.o.B.: 1968, 1964, 1979, 1967 and 1973 respectively.

Profession: Monks of the Drakar Trezong Monastery in Qinghai province, northwestern China.

Date of arrest: 16th January 2005.

Sentence: Tashi Gyaltsen and Jampel Gyatso were reportedly administratively sentenced to three years RTL ("re-education through laour") and Lobsang Thargyal, Tsultrim Phelgyal and Tsesum Samten to two years' RTL respectively.

Details of arrest: Arrested in their rooms at the Darkar Trezong monastery in Qinghai province, northwestern China. They were allegedly detained for publishing a journal called "The Charm of Sun and Moon" which contained poems and writings of a political nature. The magazine was published in mid late 2004.

Place of detention: Said to be held in Topa Re-education Through Labour Camp at Huangzhong Dzong, near Xining in Qinghai province, northwestern China.

Professional details: Tashi Gyaltsen is sadi to have edited this and other magazines at the monastery, and to have written "The Past and Present History of Tredzong Monastery" and other articles. Jampel Gyatso coedited the magazine. Lobsang Thargyal, Tsultrim Phelgyal and Tsesum Samten all vice-edited the magazine.

Previous political problems/imprisonment: Lobsang Thargyal and Tsesum Samten were detained without charge for one and two months respectivley in 2002.

Released: Lobsang Thargyal, Tsultrim Phelgyal and Tsesum Samten were released, their sentence having come to term. They can only rejoin their Monastery or attend activities there after one year and have also lost their political rights. Gyaltsen and Gyatso continue to serve their sentence.