[16 June] Today, in a global action, a 40,000-signature petition calling for justice for imprisoned Tibetan community leader, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, has been delivered to Chinese embassies in eight countries.
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a Tibetan community leader who was originally sentenced to death in 2002 following a closed trial, later commuted to life imprisonment, is reported by his family to be in very ill health, suffering from high blood pressure and heart disease.
In an action to highlight his case and the urgency of his situation, Tibetans and Tibet supporters around the globe delivered a 40,000-signature petition (1) to Chinese embassies in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, UK and the United States (2), that calls for a new trial for imprisoned religious and community leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. This petition mirrors a petition organised by Tibetans in Tenzin Delek's home region of Lithang in Kham (Chinese: Sichuan), which was signed by 40,000 people and which Tenzin Delek’s family in Tibet courageously attempted to deliver to the Chinese government in December 2009 (3).
 In London, the petition was handed to a representative at the Chinese Embassy by Tibet Society Chair Fredrick Hyde-Chambers and Chief Executive Officer Philippa Carrick. The petition was accompanied by a letter from Fabian Hamilton MP, calling on the Chinese authorities to urgently re-examine Tenzin Delek’s case.
“Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was never granted a fair trial and, given China’s new rules forbidding admission of evidence gained from torture, it is time for his case to be re-opened and a new trial granted in accordance with international legal standards,” said Philippa Carrick, Chief Executive Officer of Tibet Society. She added, “Tibet groups worldwide have collected these 40,000 signatures in solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet who bravely risked their freedom, and perhaps their lives, appealing for the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.”
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a highly respected community leader and staunch advocate for the protection and preservation of Tibetan culture and the environment, was sentenced to death in December 2002, along with his distant relative Lobsang Dhondup, on false charges of exploding bombs and distributing separatist leaflets. The sole evidence for Tenzin Delek’s conviction was a confession, extracted under torture, from Lobsang Dhondup who was later executed. Tenzin Delek’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in January 2005. Tenzin Delek has maintained his innocence throughout his detention and, during a visit with family members in 2009, Tenzin Delek stated, “I am not responsible for these explosions or any other illegal actions, they have pinned this on me…. If it is possible to appeal, there is hope that I may be cleared of all charges.” (4)
In May new legal regulations were issued by the Chinese government, which state that evidence obtained through torture and intimidation cannot be used in criminal prosecutions. On this basis Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's case should be reopened and a new trial conducted based on evidence that has not been elicited through torture whilst in detention. (5)
On 11 June Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that two of Tenzin Delek's sisters were permitted to visit him in April, apparently in response to promises made by the Chinese authorities after demonstrations in Nyakchukha in December 2009. The sisters were told by the prison doctor that Tenzin Delek was suffering from "ailments related to bones, heart, and blood pressure". Tenzin Delek also requested his sisters continue their efforts to secure his release, and that he had sent letters to 26 Chinese government departments. (6)
Tibet campaigners worldwide have taken this action to demonstrate to the Chinese authorities that there is widespread support for the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. International actions included delivery of petitions to Chinese Embassies and Consulates on four continents, faxing petitions to Beijing Ministries and briefing foreign governments. Petitions will be put on display in Dharamsala, the centre of the exiled Tibetan community, and exiles from Tenzin Delek's community will be invited to view them. The 40,000 signatures will now be sent by courier directly to Politburo Standing Committee Member Zhou Yongkang, who was Party Secretary in Sichuan Province when Tenzin Delek was arrested and now oversees China's law enforcement agencies and Ministries.
[ends]
Photos of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche are available on request.
For background / further information contact:
Philippa Carrick, Tibet Society: 020 7272 1414 email:
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Notes to editors:
1. To view an on-line version of the petition visit http://www.freetenzin.org.
2. On 16 June 2010, in a global day of action for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, copies of petitions have been delivered to Chinese embassies in Berlin, Delhi, Frankfurt, London, New York, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington D.C..
3. For a full translation of the petition from Tibet visit: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2009/12/from-woesers-blog-people-of-yajiang-in.html. 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. In November 2009, a group of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s relatives and friends traveled to Beijing to request the central government review his case. The petitioners were urged to return to Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan province. Local people in Tenzin Delek's home area heard about the petitioners' visit to Beijing and decided to take action. From 5 December 2009 for several days, scores of Tibetans in and around Tenzin Delek's village of Orthok, Nyakchukha County, Kardze Prefecture in Kham (Ch: Yajiang County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province) peacefully gathered and held hunger strikes in support of their imprisoned spiritual leader; there were numerous beatings by the police and up to 90 demonstrating Tibetans were arrested and detained for a period of time.
4. 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, while awaiting the outcome of an appeal. For further information about Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s original trial read Human Rights Watch report: Trial of a Tibetan Monk available at http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/china0204/
5. A new set of legal rules were jointly released on 30 May by five Chinese ministries and judiciary organs, including the Supreme People's Court, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Justice. One regulation sets out principles and rules for scrutinizing and gauging evidence used in cases involving the death penalty; the other sets out detailed procedures for examining evidence and for excluding evidence obtained in an illegal way including torture. The new regulations were reported by Xinhua, with follow-up reports by Associated Press and the BBC.
6. Radio Free Asia report, 11 June, “Sisters Visit Jailed Monk”
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/monk-visit-06112010105841.html
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