Join the Letter Writing Campaign

Sonam Dekyi and Ngawang Choephel symbolize the best instincts in us all. Ngawang, an idealistic and gifted musician, fell in love with his amateur video camera after beginning his studies at Middlebury College, in Vermont. He believed his purpose in life was to preserve what he could of his dying culture.

Sonam Dekyi, Ngawang's mother, courageously campaigns for her son's release on the dangerous streets of New Delhi. She is the personification of a mother's love and devotion for her son.

Ngawang is not a spy. The Chinese made a mistake. Every day that passes, Ngawang grows weaker, and his 62-year old mother moves closer to never seeing her son again. We need to help these people become reunited as a family again.

You can support them by doing two things:

First, write a letter to Chinese Premiere Zhu Ronji Zongli. You may print out the form letter on the right to send, or use it as a guide to personalize your concern to China's top leader.

Second, you can send a donation of money to Sonam Dekyi in India through U.S. Congressman James Jeffords' office in Washington D.C. Ngawang was a student in Congressman Jeffords' district when he was a student at Middlebury College in Vermont. Congressman Jeffords has established The Sonam Dekyi fund to help Sonam continue her campaign.

Contact Congressman Jeffords here:

United States Congressman James Jeffords
728 Harte Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

1-800-835-5500

1-202-224-5141

Congressman Jeffords webpage:

http://www.senate.gov/~jeffords/

Send Congressman Jeffords an E-Mail: http://www.senate.gov/~jeffords/e-mail.html

For the latest information on Ngawang Choephel's case: www.savetibet.org/index.html

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A Sample Letter

Dear Premier ZHU Rongji:
I am writing on behalf of Ngawang Choephel, a Tibetan exile and musician who was raised in India and spent a year studying in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar.

Ngawang Choephel traveled to Tibet in the summer of 1995 to make a documentary film about traditional Tibetan performing arts. In August 1995, he was detained by authorities in Shigatse and was held without charge for more than a year.

Mr. Choephel was tried in September 1995 and sentenced on November 13, 1996 to 15 years imprisonment on "espionage" charges. In addition, he was sentenced to three more years imprisonment on charges of "counter-revolutionary activities," and four years deprivation of political rights to be served after his release.

I am writing to express my concern for Mr. Choephel who is reportedly suffering from bronchitis, hepatitis and respiratory infections. I am concerned about the poor prison conditions in Tibet and the fact that bronchial type illnesses can be extremely infectious and recovery can be difficult in such an environment. There is constant risk of re-infection.

Due to Mr. Choephel's deteriorating health conditions, I urge you to provide him with adequate medical care and food; and ensure that he has sufficient rest while he remains in detention. In addition, I respectfully request that he be transferred to a hospital where he can receive special treatment.

Because of Mr. Choephel's poor health, and his mother's failing health and advanced age, I urge you to release Mr. Choephel immediately and unconditionally for humanitarian reasons.

Sincerely,
(Your name here)

Download Microsoft word version of above letter.

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