Ven. Ngawang Phulchung

Ven Ngawang Phulchung is the senior monk from Drepung monastery near Lhasa. He was also singled out as the leader of the Drepung printing group, which secretly produced literature critical of the Chinese occupation of Tibet in early 1988. The publications of the group included a Tibetan translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the first Tibetan political manifesto, "The Meaning of the Precious Democratic Constitution of Tibet," which called for a democratic system based on Buddhist tradition. The group also produced pro-independence leaflets that were designed to be stuck on walls in Lhasa. One describes how Tibetans were shot dead by police in pro-independence demonstrations, and is considered unusual in that it presents a sober account of the event rather than exaggerating the details for propaganda purposes.

Following peaceful demonstrations by Drepung monks in 1987, the Drepung printing group was discovered and remained under constant surveillance by the Chinese authorities in 1988. For a time the group managed to continue publishing their work, but in September 1988 the Chinese began a re-education program at the monastery.

On November 30, 1989 Ngawang and fellow monks Jampel Changchup, Jampel Chunjor, Ngawang Gyaltsen, and Ngawang Oeser were all sentenced in a mass rally for their involvement in the Drepung printing group. Ngawang, now aged 43, was sentenced to 19 years in prison, as were Jampel Changchup and Jampel Chunjor; Ngawang Gyaltsen and Ngawang Oeser were sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment. It is thought that the long sentences given to those involved in the Drepung printing group were intended as a warning to Tibetan independence advocates. The monks were accused of setting up an "illegal separatist movement" or "counter-revolutionary clique" and of "collecting information and passing it on to the enemy, seriously undermining national security."

All those prosecuted for involvement in the Drepung printing group were held at Drapchi Prison, Tibet Autonomous Region Prison No.1, Lhasa, Tibet, People's Republic of China. There were reports that Ngawang was beaten until unconscious by Chinese army units after taking part in a protest against prisoner transfers on April 27, 1991. He was reportedly put in solitary confinement for six weeks and may have been badly injured. He was released on October 29, 2007.