TORONTO, December 1 – Tibetans and supporters will hold a 12 hour demonstration from 9am-9pm in front of the Chinese Consulate on Wednesday, Dec 1st to raise awareness and save the life of the influential Buddhist leader, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.
Dec 1 (Dec 2nd in China) is the date when Tenzin Delek’s 2 year death Sentence reprieve expires. There are also continous letter writing, petition and postcard campaigns taking place around the world. In Canada we are urging our foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew to intervene with the Chinese government on behalf of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, for he should be either guaranteed a fair and open trial, with independent legal counsel, in line with international standards, or he should be immediately released.
On December 2, 2002 Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a highly respected Buddhist monk and teacher from eastern Tibet was sentenced to death with a two year reprieve for a crime he did not commit. He could be executed by the Chinese government in December 2004. His co-defendent, Lobsang Dhondup has already been executed by the Chinese government. Human rights organizations around the world believe Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was framed on charges of involvement in a series of unsolved explosions, because he is viewed by the Chinese government as a threat to their control of Tibet.
Tibet has been occupied by China for more than fifty years.
Human Rights Watch reports that Tenzin Delek is known for his dedication to preserving Tibetan religion and culture and protecting the environment. He built many schools, monasteries and orphanages in his area, and is an advocate of the Dalai Lama’s philosophy of non-violence. Because of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s influence in his community and his efforts to preserve Tibetan identity, he was an obstacle to the Chinese authorities’ control in the region. Over the course of a decade, he was the target of harassment, intimidation and control by Chinese officials.
The Chinese government did not present credible evidence against Tenzin Delek Rinpoche or any of the Tibetans detained in connection with this case. They were denied access to independent lawyers and did not have a fair trial. Tibet Support Groups around the world are calling on China to overturn the death sentence and to release Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.
Toronto Tibetans and friends have also been holding candlelight vigils in front of the Chinese Consulate every Saturday and Sunday of this month from 4pm-6pm.
The evening candlelight vigils will ontinue though to weekend of Dec 4th and 5th.
What: Demonstration to stop the execution of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
Where: Chinese Consulate, 240 St. George Street, Toronto
When: Wednesday, December 1, 2004
(December 2 in China) 9am – 9pm
(9am Prayers, 11 am- 1pm Demonstration, 5pm-9pm candlelight vigil)
