China seeks to take the heat off its human rights record one day after major US Government report and start of EU-China Human Rights Dialogue [ London] Phuntsog Nyidrol (37), the last of the 'Drapchi 14' group of imprisoned nuns was released on 26 February, 2004. She was released one year early having served 15 years in Drapchi prison in Tibet for peaceful protest. She had been due to be released in March 2005.

The timing of Phuntsog's release is significant as it could be viewed as an attempt by China to take the heat off its poor human rights record. China's human rights record was severely criticised as "poor" yesterday in the US State Department's annual Country Report on Human Rights. The report was thought to lay the path for the US tabling a critical resolution on China at the UN Commission of Human Rights meeting in Geneva (15 March - 23 April). Today, also marked the start of the bi-annual EU-China human rights dialogue in Ireland. This dialogue has been much criticised by NGOs for failing to produce substantive results. Indeed, the USA has declined to accept China's invitation to resume their bilateral dialogue on human rights as they believe that it has failed to produce results. 

Anne Callaghan of Free Tibet Campaign commented, "We welcome China's release of Phuntsog Nyidrol, a case that our activists have been working tirelessly on for years. We continue to fear for her health given previous reports of deterioration as a result of torture and poor conditions in Drapchi prison." Ms Callaghan also noted that, "However, China needs to actually address the root causes of human rights abuses in Tibet and the EU must insist that China agrees a further date to meet representatives of the Dalai Lama".