Greetings,
We are happy to be able to share the news that we now know where Tenzin Delek Rinpoche is being held. According to information from Chinese Foreign Ministry officials in response to criticism by the President of the European Union, he has been jailed in Tuandong (also known as Chuandong) prison, a high security prison in Sichuan province. It is the same prison that Chadrel Rinpoche, the senior Tibetan lama who led the search for the 11th Panchen Lama, was held in for seven years. The officials also said that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche would not be executed until December 2nd, 2004. There are often contradictions between what is said and done by the Chinese government, so we believe that he could still be executed any time between April 7th (the date of his detention) and December 2nd (the date he was sentenced).
The Chinese government has been disturbingly silent on Tenzin Delek’s case for the past year, and only gave this information after intense pressure. Congratulations to each and every one of you who took action and made them realize that it is an issue they must deal with. Together we can continue to show them that they cannot get away with murder.
We are also excited to tell you that a resolution in the United States Congress calling for the release of Phuntsog Nyidron and all Tibetan political prisoners has just been passed unanimously. SFT’s American members – lobbied their Congressional representatives to co-sponsor this bill. Once again, this is proof that we can make change happen, and we hope that it will also inspire you to meet with your political representatives about Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. (You can read more at http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?c=4&t=1&id=6098.)
The international monitoring agency Human Rights Watch has just released an incredible report on Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s case that is a valuable tool to use when you meet with your political representatives. While it is sobering to read, the report is also an inspiring record of incredible courage and determination in the face of gross oppression. You can view it at http://actionnetwork.org/ct/ddaAsf51_jXU/hrwreport/, or order a hard copy to use in a meeting by emailing freya@studentsforafreetibet.org (make sure to include your name and address).
We also have a few other new and fun tools that you can use to help Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. Stencils and stickers with the image of Tenzin Delek’s face and text reading “SENTENCED TO DIE – YOU CAN SAVE MY LIFE.
WWW.SAVETENZIN.ORG” are available (stencils immediately and stickers after March 1st – order by emailing freya@studentsforafreetibet). Use them to put his image wherever you can. By doing this, we spread awareness about Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s plight, and send a message to the Chinese government that this case isn’t going anywhere – it’s going everywhere.
Good luck!
The SFT Crew
