December 1 – In London freezing winter cold, a candle light vigil was held outside the Chinese embassy in London by some 100 students, Tibetans and Tibet supporters demanding the immediate release of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche.
Tenzin Deleg a popular religious figure from eastern Tibet and his disciple Lobsang Dhondup was sentenced to death for “causing explosions” and “inciting separatism” on 2 December 2002. His was sentenced to death with two years’ suspension and deprivation of political rights for life while Lobsang Dhondup was executed.
At the vigil, there were students from various English universities including from London School of Economics and School of Oriental and African Studies.
Both young and old Tibetans, and their supporters held a candle in one hand and a placard in the other which read “Free Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche”.
Every now and then, passer bys asked for information about the vigil and cars honk as their drove by.
At the end of the two hours vigil, the Tibetans sang the Prayer of Truth and the Tibetan National Anthem. The vigil was jointly organised by Students for Free Tibet – UK and the Tibetan Community in Britain.
