Tibetans and supporters gathered around the Chinese Mission in New York on December 2nd 2004, with candles, posters of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and Tibetan National Flag around their bodies. The vigil was organized by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of New York and New Jersey. Despite cold windy weather and scheduled working hours, quite a large number of people showed up for the vigil.
On Decemeber 2nd 2002, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a popular religious figure from eastern Tibet and his disciple Lobsang Dhondup was sentenced to death for “causing explosions” and “inciting separatism”. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was sentenced to death with two years’ suspension and deprivation of political rights for life while Lobsang Dhondup was executed on January 26, 2003.
Both young and old Tibetans and their supporters held a candle in one hand and a placard in the other which read “Free Tenzin Delek Rinpoche”.
The vigil was attended by the members from Students for a free Tibet (SFT), US Tibet Committee (USTC), Tibetan Community of NY & NJ (TC NY & NJ), local Tibetans and supporters. The two hour vigil concluded with slogans, prayers and the Tibetan National Anthem.
In the same morning, staff, members, and supporters of Students for a Free Tibet marked the beginning of the week of action by holding a raucous protest at the Chinese Consulate in New York. A small group entered the Consulate and delivered a letter to Chinese Authorities demanding Tenzin Delek’s immediate release. After delivering the letter, they staged a protest inside, while a larger group noisily chanted just outside. The activists inside were evicted from the Consulate by Consular security and New York police, joining the others outside to continue the protest.
On December 10th 2004 (Universal Human Right’s Day), the New York based Tibetan organizations will jointly organize a Mass Demonstration at United Nations in New York and then march towards Chinese Consulate (New York). Quite a large number of Tibetans and supporters from the neighboring states are expected to join for the day.
