E/CN.4/1992/17 page 13 since 12 April 1991. It was reported that both had commenced a hunger-strike on 13 August 1991 to protest against their continued solitary confinement, lack of medical care and poor conditions in the prison. It was further reported that Wang Juntao was suffering from Hepatitis B, allegedly contracted in prison. Fears had been expressed that the physical integrity, and even the life of these two persons might be in danger unless they were promptly given adequate medical treatment. 42. On 17 September 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of China concerning Lobsang Tsondrue, a Buddhist monk aged 76 from Drepung monastery who had been arrested in April 1990, sentenced to six years' imprisonment and held in Drapchi prison, Lhasa, since then. It was reported that following an incident which had taken place in the prison on 27 April 1991, Lobsang Tsondrue and about 20 other prisoners had been subjected to severe beatings and, according to the information provided by another prisoner who saw him in late June, Lobsang Tsondrue had blood stains on his face and clothes and was in poor health. It was further reported that he had been held in prolonged solitary confinement, in violation of Chinese regulations which limit this punishment to 15 days. In the light of these circumstances, fears were expressed that his state of health might be seriously endangered. 43. On 10 December 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of China concerning the following persons: (a) Sonam Wangdu, also known as Shukden or Shungden, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1988 and was being held in Drapchi prison, Lhasa. According to the sources, he was severely beaten following his participation in a peaceful vigil which took place in the prison in December 1990. He was later transferred to the public security hospital in bad condition and unable to walk on his own. After some treatment, he was returned to Drapchi jail in mid-February where he was being held incommunicado. Sources reported that his health was deteriorating rapidly and he could no longer control his bladder; however, he had not been provided with any medical care; (b) Lonbsang Topchu (lay name Kungkyab), a monk of Sera monastery from Medro Lapdong, was arrested for taking part in a demonstration in the Bakhor area of Lhasa in May 1991 and stabbed repeatedly. He was first taken to the military hospital near Sera monastery and later transferred to Gutsa prison. Because of the stab wounds to his back and head he was unable to see properly and his breathing had been severely affected. According to the sources, despite the fact that he could no longer stand, even aided, he was being held in his cell at Gutsa, not in the hospital; (c) Phuntsok Tsungme (lay name Thupten), a 23-year-old non-registered monk of Sera monastery, was arrested in May 1991 for taking part in a demonstration and was being held at Gutsa prison in Lhasa. According to the sources, he was receiving very harsh treatment and had been severely beaten by prison authorities; (d) Lobsan Delek (lay name Sonam Choephel), a monk of Sera monastery, was arrested in May 1991 at his brother's office at the Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences and taken to Sangyip prison, 5 km north of Lhasa.