E/CN.4/2000/9 page 53 individuals, have also recently been sentenced to death. It is not known whether they have appealed these verdicts. 234. By the same urgent appeal, the Special Rapporteurs informed the Government that they had received information according to which Zulikar Memet and Seidakhmet Memet, who was reportedly recently sentenced to six years' imprisonment, are in very poor health due to torture and the detention conditions at Yengi Hayat jail in Gulja (Yining) city, Ili prefecture. Hemit Memet was also reportedly held in harsh conditions of incommunicado and solitary detention at the Ili prefectural prison. 235. On 25 August 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal on behalf of Tsering Dorje, a Tibetan translator who had reportedly been detained with two foreigners, Daja Meston and Gabriel Lafitte, who were investigating the impact of a World Bank project. It is alleged that the three men were detained by Chinese State security officials in Xiangride on 15 August 1999. Gabriel Lafitte was reportedly released on 21 August, while Daja Meston was reportedly seriously injured when he jumped from the third floor while trying to escape from detention. Tsering Dorje reportedly remains in detention, although his current whereabouts are unknown. The Government replied on 7 October 1999 that Tsering Dorje had been employed by Daja Meston and Gabriel Lafitte from 11 to 14 August 1999 to enter areas in Dulan county, Qinghai province which were not open to the public, to gather material for the conduct of illegal activities and to serve as an interpreter. He was questioned by the Qinghai province State security officers on 17 August 1999 and was assigned to home surveillance in accordance with the law on 18 August 1999. The Government further responded that he had made a confession and signed a statement of repentance, after which the Qinghai State security organs lifted the surveillance on 24 August 1999. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur that his rights were fully respected and protected and that no torture or ill-treatment took place. No information was provided on the other two persons referred to in the allegation. 236. On 5 November 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal in conjunction with the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Geshe Sonam Phuntsok of Karze Dhargye Monastry, Agya Tsering and Sonam, three Tibetan monks, who had reportedly been arrested and detained on 24 October 1999 by officials from the Karze County Public Security Bureau on suspicion of involvement in political activities and contact with the exiled Tibetan Government. Their current whereabouts were unknown. In relation to this case, it was also reported that officials of the Public Security Bureau opened fire on 300 Tibetans during a peaceful demonstration demanding the release of the above-mentioned monks. At least 10 demonstrators were reportedly arrested, although their identities and the exact location of their detention were not known. Follow-up to previously transmitted communications 237. By letter dated 24 February 1999 the Government responded to an urgent appeal sent by the Special Rapporteur on 10 December 1998, in conjunction with the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of opinion and expression, and on violence against women (see E/CN.4/1999/61, para. 126). The Government indicated that Ngawang Sangdrol was sentenced in November 1992 by the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People's Court to three years' imprisonment, including one year with no political rights for committing actions that imperiled the security and unity of the State. The Government further replied that after she was admitted