New Delhi, December 2 – Members of the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT) and the members of Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) submitted memorandums to the President of PRC, the Indian Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister for the immediate release of Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, whose reprieve period of the suspended death sentence expires on the 25th of January 2005.
The memorandum was signed by all the four conveners of APIPFT, Mr. Bashishtha Narain Singh (Rajya Sabha), Mr. Kharabela Swain (Lok Sabha), Mr. P.T. Gyamtso (Rajya Sabha), Mr. Mohan Singh (Lok Sabha) and Mr. Thubsten Chhewang (Lok Sabha). Four members of the Standing Committee of the Tibetan parliament led by the Vice Chairperson Mrs. Gyari Dolma, Ven. Biri Jigmey, Sonam Damdul and Gyalrong Dawa Tsering has been camping in Delhi since the 26th of November 2004 to lobby with the Indian leaders and Foreign Diplomats.
The members of the Indian and Tibetan parliamentarians were not allowed by the local police officials to proceed towards the Chinese Embassy. After haggling for about an hour with the police, three Indian parliamentarians were allowed to present the memorandum. The Tibetan members courted arrest and were released after some time. The members expressed their displeasure at the police action, which is unbecoming of a free and democratic country.
In the memorandum, the members while expressing their deep anguish and concern over the impending execution of Trulku Tenzin Delek, urged the Chinese government for the immediate release of TDR forthwith and unconditionally.
A joint press conference was held at the Indian Women’s Press Corps later. The Tibetan members intend to intensify their lobbying with the Indian leaders and the foreign diplomats. A huge rally of Tibetans and Indian supporters is being planned on the 10th of December, coinciding with the International Human Rights Day in Delhi.
