By Kalsang Rinchen
Dharamshala, June 16 – Tibetans and their supporters here joined a global day of action today seeking release of a prominent Tibetan philanthropist Tenzin Delek Rinpoche currently serving life sentence in a Chinese prison.
In cities around the world, Tibetans and supporters delivered a 40,000 signature petition to Chinese embassies and consulates around the world denouncing what they call an “unjust imprisonment” of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. In Dharamshala, where the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama has been residing since 1960, The Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu Chu Sum and Students for a free Tibet – India sent more than ten thousand signature – petitions by fax and courier to Chinese authorities in Beijing and the Chinese embassy in the Indian capital New Delhi. The petition mirrored contents of a similar writ appeal signed by 40,000 Tibetans in Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s native Lithang in Kham, eastern Tibet (Chinese: Sichuan Province). Members of Tenzin Delek’s family attempted to deliver the petition to Beijing in December last year but were stopped in Chengdu.
“Like all Tibetan prisoners of conscience, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche did not receive a fair trial under Chinese law. Now is the time for his case to be re-opened and a new trial to be granted in accordance with international legal standards, especially given his deteriorating health condition,” said Ngawang Woebar, President of Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet and a former political prisoner himself.
On 11 June, 2010 Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that two of Tenzin Delek’s sisters were permitted to visit him in April this year apparently in response to promises made by local Chinese authorities after Tibetans in the Lithang area attempted to deliver their petition to the Sichuan Provincial Government in December 2009. According to RFA, the prison doctor confirmed that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was suffering from “ailments related to bones, heart, and blood pressure.” One source revealed that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche requested his sisters to continue their efforts for his release, and that he had sent letters to 26 Chinese government departments.
“Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s was framed by the Chinese government for crimes he did not commit because he was an outspoken advocate for Tibetan culture, religion, and identity. We are deeply concerned for his well-being and demand his immediate release,” said Tenzin Choeying, National Director of Students for a free Tibet India.
On 2 December 2002, the Kardze Intermediate People’s Court in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, sentenced Lobsang Dhondup, a relative of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, to death for “inciting separatism”, “causing explosions” and “illegal possession of guns and ammunition”. He was executed on January 26, 2003, despite huge international outcry.
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche received a death sentence with a two-year reprieve for “causing explosions” and “inciting separatism”. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who lived at a monastery in nomad-dominated Othok, was granted a two-year reprieve, then had his sentence commuted to life on January 26, 2005.
“What happened on 26 January, 2005 ascertains the strength of global grassroots organizing. The pressure from the international community pushed the Chinese authorities into commuting Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death sentence to life imprisonment.” said Tenzin Choeying, National Director of Students for a free Tibet, India. “We should continue to pressurize the Chinese government for his release”
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche is a revered philanthropist and a religious leader as well as a visionary and consistent advocate of Tibetan identity and culture.
