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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9th 2009

Contact:
Tenzin Dorjee (English and Tibetan) in New York +1 646 724-0748
Ven. Ngawang Woeber (Tibetan with translation) at the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, c/o +44 7984 799 958

TIBETANS IN TIBET APPEAL FOR NEW-TRIAL OF RELIGIOUS LEADER SERVING LIFE SENTENCE

Hundreds of Tibetans in eastern Tibet are appealing for a new trial for revered monk and Buddhist teacher Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who is serving a life sentence in a Chinese prison. Reports indicate that those appealing include five of Tenzin Delek’s relatives who recently traveled to Beijing to deliver a petition on his behalf signed by 30,000 people (1). Since Saturday 5 December, several hundred Tibetans in and around his village of Orthok, Nyagchukha County, Kardze Prefecture in Kham (Ch: Yajiang County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province) have been peacefully gathering and holding hunger strikes in support of their imprisoned spiritual leader; reports suggest that as many as 90 of them have been arrested.

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was sentenced to death in December 2002 on conspiracy charges relating to a bombing incident in Chengdu, but has maintained his innocence throughout his detention (2). Following a global advocacy campaign, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in January 2005. Local Tibetans have remained intensely loyal to Tenzin Delek, and their actions in recent days represent a major escalation in their campaign for a re-trial (3), as Chinese authorities step up security measures in the region.

“This is a remarkable public outpouring of support for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, especially given the intense security climate that continues today in Tibet,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “Tibetans in the area have never accepted that this Buddhist monk, who devoted his life to the betterment of his community and the protection of the environment, could be convicted of a violent crime, and they are taking extraordinary risks in their efforts to secure his release.”

According to reports from Tibet, five members of Tenzin Delek’s family traveled to Beijing a number of weeks ago to deliver a lengthy petition, which called for a new hearing on the basis of three points; that there is no proof against Tenzin Delek, that he refuses to admit any guilt, and that he was framed by an official plot. The petition describes in detail how Tenzin Delek has maintained his innocence and appealed for help in securing a new trial. According to the petition text, when a family member was permitted to visit him in prison, he said; “I am not responsible for these explosions or any other illegal actions, they have pinned this on me, I have always taught people that one should not harm any life, not even that of an ant, how could I then possibly be responsible for such an action? If it is possible to appeal, there is hope that I may be cleared of all charges.”

Reports indicate that Tenzin Delek’s relatives were forced to return home from Beijing and then travelled to Chengdu, Sichuan to request permission from the courts to visit him. Some reports suggest that this group may have been detained, but this has not been confirmed. Tenzin Delek is being held in Mianyang Prison, Sichuan Province. His health is understood to be deteriorating and he reportedly has difficultly walking and suffers heart pains as a result of being tortured and imprisoned.

Sources in Orthok Village and Nyagchukha County report that in recent days security forces have surrounded hundreds of Tibetans who were congregating in the County centre, but many have been stopped or detained. It is unclear whether those detained have yet been released. According to Human Rights Watch, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing and basic legal rights, and the charges against him appear groundless, prompting the widespread demand for a re-trial.

“Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was never granted a fair trial, and after seven years it is time for his case to be reopened and a new trial be granted in accordance with international legal standards,” said Ven. Ngawang Woeber, President of the Gu Chu Sum Former Political Prisoners’ organization.

Tibetans and supporters worldwide are marking International Human Rights Day tomorrow, December 10th, with global protests and vigils. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Dalai Lama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his internationally recognized efforts to negotiate a resolution for Tibet with the Chinese government.

Notes to editors:

  • 1. For a full translation of the text of the petition, see: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2009/12/from-woesers-blog-people-of-ya…. A copy of the original, in both Tibetan and Chinese, can be viewed on the blog http://woeser.middle-way.net/2009/12/blog-post_9787.html.
  • 2. Witnesses have testified that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche shouted out his innocence during his trial, and in a tape smuggled out of prison in January 2003, whilst he was awaiting the outcome of an appeal, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche said, “Whatever [the authorities] do and say, I am completely innocent… I was wrongly accused because I have always been sincere and devoted to the interests and well-being of Tibetans. The Chinese did not like what I did and what I said. That is the only reason why I was arrested… I have always said we should not raise our hands at others. It is sinful… I have neither distributed letters or pamphlets nor planned bombs secretly. I have never even thought of such things and I have no intention to hurt others.”
  • 3. Tibetans in the Nyagchukha area have been attempting to raise Tenzin Delek’s case with Chinese officials since his arrest in 2002. In May 2007, five carloads of Tibetans set off to travel to Chengdu, Sichuan to appeal on his behalf, but their vehicles were stopped and the occupants beaten. For two days following this initiative, local people gathered in numbers in front of a local government building to appeal for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s release.
  • 4. The International Tibet Support Group’s Political Prisoner Campaign Working Group includes the following organizations: Students for a Free Tibet, Australia Tibet Council and Gu Chu Sum Former Political Prisoners’ organisation.