By Tenzin Mpnlam
DHARAMSHALA, January 22: A former Tibetan political prisoner has passed away at the age of 79 in Lhasa on January 6.
Tenzin, who hail from Lhasa, the capital city of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), had been incarcerated twice by the Chinese authorities and underwent extreme torture.
According to sources, he lost his eyesight due to the severe torture during his time behind bars and the deterioration of his health following his release.
The exact charges against him was not clear. However, his release was prompted by his poor health.
According to a report of Human Rights Watch in 2015, torture is still a common practice in Chinese jails, with police flouting regulations and courts ignoring rules designed to exclude evidence and confessions obtained by mistreatment.
The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) believes torture is widely used and systematically implemented by the Chinese authorities.
The victims are very often civil rights advocates, activists and ethnic minorities, like the Tibetans and Uyghurs. The torture takes place in Police stations, re-education and prison camps, interrogation centres, prisons, re-education centres, psychiatric facilities and other places of detention.
Despite compelling proves, China denies it holds political prisoners and says it prohibits the use of torture after facing a United Nations’ review of its human rights record.
Tulku Tenzin Delek, a philanthropist and a widely respected Tibetan lama, died on July 12, 2015 under a questionable circumstance, which suggest flout play in his death.
