San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos to host delegation
By JAMES RAMAGE/Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO — A Tibetan Buddhist monk named Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was arrested and prosecuted in a secret trial in China a year ago.
The indictment, verdict and evidence were all kept secret. Chinese prosecutors got what they wanted: a conviction and a sentence of death.
Although a human rights group says the “trial” was based on unproven allegations, San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos on Friday is set to host a high-level delegation of prosecutors from the same town that prosecuted the monk.
As this is mostly an educational gesture, Ramos said the visitors won’t be lectured on China’s human rights shortcomings.
“If they have any questions about our due process and our Constitution or the rights we extend to individuals, then we’ll share that information with them,” Ramos said. “But there won’t be any dialogue per se about human rights issues.”
On Monday, New York-based Human Rights Watch released a 108-page report on the persecution of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and his supporters. The organization says the Tibetan Buddhist lama was convicted of financing a bombing based on “unproven allegations.”
“In spite of China’s rhetoric about legal reform, Tenzin Delek’s case shows that when it comes to Tibet, the Chinese government still does not tolerate uncontrolled political or religious activity,” said Mickey Spiegel, a senior researcher in the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch.
Five prosecutors, in two delegations, from Chengdu City will tour the courthouse and a courtroom to study the county system up close, Ramos said.
One delegation will include Shao Hui Min, attorney general of the People’s Prosecutors’ office in Chengdu City. Zhang Hui Guang, assistant attorney general of the People’s Prosecutor’s office of a district within Chengdu City, will lead another delegation.
A press release from the DA’s office says Ramos “will discuss the similarities and differences of prosecution between the two countries.”
According to Human Rights Watch, Communist Chinese officials refused to open the trial or to release the indictment, verdict or any of the evidence. Officials claimed that state secrets were involved.
One of Delek’s co-defendants has already been executed. Two were sentenced for associating with the Tibetan lama.
Kathy Dong, who manages the Sinnip International Group’s South Pasadena office, organized the visit.
“After visiting the U.S., their impressions could lead to gradual changes,” Dong said. “Human rights, it’s the whole system.
“It’s much better than 10 years ago. It will gradually get better.”
Ramos said that by presenting the county’s system and procedures, distinctions between the two countries’ philosophies on justice would become all the more apparent to the Chinese representatives.
“It might be a good sign that they’re coming,” Ramos said. “Maybe they’re leaning toward doing things the right way.”
James Ramage can be reached at james_ramage@link.freedom.com or 951-6242.
