The Chinese government initially denied to three different UN Special Rapporteurs that the protests in Drapchi had occurred. However, officials admitted to the UN Committee Against Torture in May 2000 that there had been a demonstration in Drapchi and that some prisoners' sentences had been extended, but they denied that any deaths had been caused by beating. Hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns are believed to remain in Tibetan prisons. Many prisoners are forced to work long hours in harsh conditions. Inadequate and poor quality food combined with unsanitary conditions cause health problems for many inmates.
Few prisoners escape torture and ill-treatment.
Ngawang Sangdrol is reported to have suffered from a kidney ailment. There are continuing concerns about her health and treatment given the difficult prison conditions in Drapchi and the extremely harsh treatment to which she has already been subjected. It's believed that he was brutally tortured. Lin ShenLi was recently sent to a Chinese labour camp without trial. He has reportedly been subjected to repeated interrogations aimed at forcing him to renounce his belief in Falun Gong and to denounce his fellow practitioners.