"Convicts Here Are All Well Treated with Humanitarianism"

"Obviously criminals here are all well treated with humanitarianism", a UN representative made these remarks two years ago when he came on an inspection tour of a jail in Tibet Autonomous Region.

"Nowadays, conditions in the jail have been very much improved when compared with two years ago, with a new playground and new dining hall built, musical instruments equipped, and food standard raised. The criminals here are enjoying a broad range of humanitarianism treatment than ever ", these are the words by Norbu put in charge of the jail.

Keni, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment for inflicting lethal injuries on other, is confined in the second part of the jail. As a routine, he and other criminals get up every day at 8 o'clock in the morning. After cleaning-up, washing and having breakfast, he will attend to some handcrafts in a workshop from 9:30 to 12:30. The next three hours is his lunch and rest time and he will continue to work from 15:30 to 18:00. From 20:00 to 23:30 after supper, he and his inmates can read books and magazines, listen to broadcast, watch TV and play chess.

Formerly being a primary school teacher, Keni has taught Tibetan to other convicts on Saturday and Sunday and the jail has appealed the court to commute for him on account of his good behavior to atone for his crime committed. However, this case is not a special one, according to statistics, every year there are as many as over 35% of convicts in the jail having been commuted, set free or released on probation.

Every day, at noonday mealtime, exquisite fragrance of rice wafts the mess hall of the jail. Rules in the jail have it to say clearly that every criminal is entitled to a monthly ration of 20km of rice, 15 km of vegetables, a certain amount of meat and other subsidiary foods to a worth of 18 thousand yuan on food.

Keni said: "The mess hall has been run in a democratic way. It has its administrative council formed of convicts elected by a mass poll".

Our correspondent has also witnessed that about 30 convicts are queuing up for a health check and has been informed that the health check has been set to keep the convicts in good health.

With grass turning green and flower blooming April has arrived. Ga Ni wishes to spend "Linka" with his family as other Tibetans. On the meeting day, Ga Ni, with his family sitting round on a turf in the jail, sipped ghee and talked about family affairs with high spirit.

He said: "though it is not free as outside yet there are rules to ban any corporal punishment, cursing or maltreatment".



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