Ngawang Sangdrol

Prison As a 13-year-old nun Ngawang became one of the youngest people convicted in China for calling for Tibet's independence. In total 27 tracks were able to be secretly recorded and smuggled out of prison. Ngawang was the youngest of the thirteen Singing Nuns of Drapchi Prison. The recording made it out of Tibet and the CD, "Seeing Nothing but the Sky..." was available through the Free Tibet Campaign in London. The cases include Ngawang Lochoe who died at age 28 from acute (necrotizing) pancreatitis; according to her records she had only been hospitalised on the day of her death and also novice nun Sherab Ngawang who was arrested alongside Ngawang. Sherab died from multiple organ damage due to her treatment. After Sherab's death her internal organs were able to be examined her organs were said to resemble those of a one-hundred-year-old instead of an eighteen-year-old.

Even though Ngawang Sangdrol and all of the other nuns suffered hugely during their imprisonment, Ngawang is adamant that their objective was worth the sacrifice.

Treatment in Prison The beatings after the flag-raising ceremony was not an isolated incident. Torture was used against the nuns throughout their detention. These included the use of many instruments of physical torture; including the use of hard labour, the use of metal bars, electric cattle prods, and suspending her by her arms with her arms tied behind her back. However, Ngawang states that the psychological torture was far worse. Ngawang still suffers from headaches, stomach and kidney problems due to how she was treated and due to her exile has not been able to visit her family. Due to Ngawang's health problems the Dui Hua Foundation arranged for Ngawang to fly for treatment in the United States in March 2003. Since her release and exile Ngawang has remained a prominent figure in the Tibetan independence movement. Quickly after her release Ngawang became involved in lobbying of the release of fellow singing nun Phuntsog Nyidron who was finally released in 2004, after 16 years imprisonment, thus making Phuntsog Tibet's longest serving prisoner of conscience. The book inspired the French Film Director Marie Louville to create the 2006 documentary with the same name.