As a part of the international effort to save the life of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche who faces death sentence at the hands of the Chinese authorities on 2 December 2004, the Student for Free Tibet and Tibetan Community in Britain is holding a Special candle lit Vigil for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche on 01 December 2004 (Wednesday) from 6pm to 8pm.
The vigil is to take place in front of the Chinese Embassy at 49 – 51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL (nearest tube: Oxford Circus or Great Portland Street).
Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche is a popular religious figure from eastern Tibet. On 2 December 2002, Kardze Intermediate People’s Court sentenced him and his disciple, Lobsang Dhondup, to death for “causing explosions” and “inciting separatism”. Rinpoche was sentenced to death with two years’ suspension and Lobsang Dhondup was subsequently executed on 26 January 2003.
The arrest and unfair trial of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche and Lobsang Dhondup exemplifies China’s disregard of fundamental human rights of Tibetans and violation of international law. The trial has prompted an international outcry regarding China’s fair trial standard and many countries have also voiced their concern for Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche with the Chinese authorities.
Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche seems to be facing the wrath of the Chinese authorities for having supported His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recognition of Gedun Choekyi Nyima as the real Panchen Lama, considered the world’s youngest political under China’s control. The Chinese authorities also seem to dislike his growing influence among the Tibetans and Chinese who to come to receive Buddhist teachings from him and appreciate his efforts to restore Tibetan culture, which, ironically has the potential to serve humanity at large.
In an urgent petition addressed to Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Student for Free Tibet and the Tibetan Community in UK and all those who signed it have urged him to persuade the “People’s Republic of China” not to execute Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. Recalling the cruel and inhuman nature of the death penalty, the petition also urged the British Prime Minister “to immediately call upon the Chinese authorities to free Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche from execution and life imprisonment and to release him unconditionally.”
In another petition addressed to the Chinese President Hu Jintao, the Students for Free Tibet and the Tibetan Community in UK and all those who signed it have urged him to spare the life of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. The petition sent through the Chinese Embassy in London said, “We know that many countries in the world have specifically drawn China’s attention to Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche’s case and we strongly urge you to save the life of an innocent human being from execution and life imprisonment and to release him unconditionally.”
