By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, July 20: The United States Congress on July 14 convened a hearing before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Washington DC following the death of Tulku Tenzin Delek in Chinese prison.
The commission was co-chaired by James P. McGovern and Joseph R. Pitts with Dr. Sarah Sewall, Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues and Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Ms. Sophie Richardson, China Director, Human Rights Watch, Mr. Richard Gere, Chairman of the Board, International Campaign for Tibet and Mr. Kaydor Aukatsang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the North America as panels.
In his opening remark, Co-Chairman James P. McGovern urged the attendance to observe a moment of silence in mourning for the departed Tibetan lama. “I am angry and frustrated. I am outraged by the Chinese government’s treatment of the Tibetan people. To be blunt – it is unconscionable” he said.
Dr. Sarah Sewall in her testimony expressed sadness over the incident and said, “we were troubled to learn of the death in prison of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche” and delved on four crucial positions of her office which are resuming dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama; promoting Human Rights in Tibet; promoting religious freedom; and ensuring diplomatic and public access to Tibet and preservation of distinct culture, rich tradition and linguistic heritage of the Tibetan people.
ICT’s Chairman of Board, Richard Gere rued the overall condition of political prisoners in Tibet with the particular case of Tulku reiterating the gravity of the situation. “I had intended to focus on the urgency of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s case today, but instead, his tragic death reminds us that we must act now on behalf of all political prisoners in Tibet”.
He further urged the Chinese government to stem the conflict by putting forward means of genuine communication with Dalai Lama and ceasing rhetorical diplomacy. “The Chinese government must immediately stop vilifying the Dalai Lama, and instead view him correctly, as an essential partner in dialogue for resolving Tibetan grievances and establishing genuine autonomy within the People’s Republic of China under his Middle Way approach”.
Tulku Tenzin Delek died under ‘mysterious circumstances’ while serving a life sentence in Chinese prison on July 12 although his relatives claim murder by ‘poisoning’ after they saw the conditions of the body before a hasty cremation against their wishes on July 16.
