Since 1987, at least 37 Tibetans died in prison as a direct result of torture or mistreatment. Intensified security policies, such as detaining suspected dissidents repeatedly for short periods, are often used to intimidate possible organizers. The prison system in Tibet, unlike the situation elsewhere in China, falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security rather than that of the Ministry of Justice. This means that police investigations, demonstration control, monitor and arrest of suspects, and prison authority are in the hands of a single government agency. There is no functional independence of the judiciary.
Trials fail to meet international standards of justice.
Defense and legal counsel are rarely provided to Tibetan dissidents and are not required by law. The 1997 revisions to China s CPL specifically ban human rights abuses during interrogation, yet torture continues as a regular means for extracting confession. Courts at all levels are subject to close scrutiny and control by branches of the Communist Party. Guilt is virtually predetermined and verdicts are decided by party officials before the trials. Provide full details of prisoners whose information has not been made known to international observers.