tenzin delek rinpoche

26/06/2016 News

No justification for such heinous crime as torture

In March this year, a 30-yr-old Tibetan man called Tashi took his own life soon after his detention because he was unable to bear the torture inflicted on him in Chinese police custody. The same month, another Tibetan man named Ngodup Phuntsok aka Ngoe-ga, 61, was released from prison after eight years with crippled back and legs, unable to walk. Weeks before Ngoe-ga’s release, news surfaced that Chinese prison authorities had suddenly hospitalised the courageous monk Jigme Gyatso aka Jigme Guri just six months prior to his release. Jigme Gyatso was serving a five-year sentence for exposing human rights violations particularly Chinese torture methods in Tibet. There are fears that Jigme Gyatso might be subjected to medical torture or unnecessary treatment, and similar concerns have been expressed in regards to Dolma Tso, a 30-yr-old Tibetan woman who could be subjected to forced medical procedures. In late March this year, Tibetan language and culture advocate Tashi Wangchuk, 30, has not been heard or seen after being held in prolonged secret detention and charged of inciting separatism . Just last month, a Tibetan writer named Lobsang Jamyang (Pen-name: Lomik) was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for “leaking state secrets” and “engaging in separatist activities”; he had been held in secret detention since April 2015.

07/08/2015 News

Death of Tibetan lama in prison: Family members released from detention but banned from contacting outsiders

Chinese authorities have failed to launch an investigation into the death in detention case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a highly-revered and popular Tibetan reincarnate lama and a social activist, who died last month in the 13th year of his life imprisonment at Chuangdong Prison near Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Instead, Rinpoche’s family members, his sister Dolkar Lhamo and his…

23/07/2015 News

China must investigate death of Tibetan lama in prison; release his relatives from detention

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns the illegal and incommunicado detention of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s relatives and calls for immediate investigation into the death of Rinpoche in Chuangdong Prison near Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Information received by TCHRD confirms the arbitrary detention of Rinpoche’s sister Dolkar Lhamo, age 52, and niece Nyima Lhamo, age 25, at an undisclosed location after they submitted a petition calling for an investigation into circumstances leading to Rinpoche’s death. Both women were detained on 17 July from a restaurant in Chengdu by police officers from Lithang County, located in Tibetan province of Kham. They have not been heard or seen since then.

TCHRD believes that both relatives have been detained in connection with their sustained campaign to call for the release of Rinpoche’s remains and for calling on the Chinese authorities to launch an impartial investigation into the death of Rinpoche in prison. The petition has been widely shared and circulated by exile Tibetan organisations and submitted by TCHRD to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant Special Procedures division including Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief; Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; and Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly.

Rinpoche’s relatives did not deserve arbitrary detention and the psychological and physical harm associated with it; they submitted a petition calling for an impartial investigation into the death of Rinpoche. Submitting petitions to challenge the arbitrary use of power by government agencies does not break any law, therefore, the officers who detained them must be made accountable for their unlawful actions.

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death was the result of a series of human rights violations. Even after his death, the government of People’s Republic of China (PRC) still has human rights obligations that it is legally obliged to follow. After ignoring its legal obligations and Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s rights to be protected from arbitrary detention, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and arbitrary or extrajudicial killings, the PRC should investigate Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death and make the results of the investigation public.

15/07/2015 TCHRD Statements

TCHRD statement on the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche in Chinese prison

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is deeply shocked and saddened by the unexpected death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, aged 65 years old, serving a life imprisonment at Chuandong Prison near Chengdu city, capital of Sichuan Province in People’s Republic of China (PRC). The arrest and sentencing of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and his disciple Lobsang Dhondup demonstrates the Chinese government’s blatant disregard of fundamental human rights for Tibetans and is in violation of both international law and domestic Chinese laws.

There were many problems that took place throughout the legal process for both Rinpoche and Dhondup, from their arbitrary arrests, to their unjust sentencing in Chinese courts and their treatment following their criminal trials. This includes: the arbitrary nature of their arrests; the denial of adequate and fair legal defense for the detainees; the lack of adequate and concrete evidence to support their convictions; the absence of presumption of innocence during their criminal trials; closed and unfair trials; the use of coercive interrogation and torture on the detainees; the denial of visitation rights for the detainees; the denial of the right to be informed for the detainee’s families; arbitrary arrest and sentencing of relatives of the detainees; and, the quick implementation of Dhondup’s execution sentence lessened the chances for Rinpoche to receive a fair retrial.

13/07/2015 News

Prominent Tibetan reincarnate lama Tenzin Delek Rinpoche dies in prison

A prominent Tibetan reincarnate lama and philanthropist Tenzin Delek Rinpoche died at the age of 65 while serving life imprisonment at a prison near Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China.

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was a highly-respected religious leader in Lithang County, Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan province of Kham. He was renowned for his active involvement in the restoration of Tibetan culture and religion, social welfare activities and his outspoken criticisms against Chinese policies. On 5 December 2002, Rinpoche and his nephew Lobsang Dhondup were sentenced to death with two years’ reprieve and death sentence respectively for masterminding a series of bomb blast incidents at Tianfu Square in Chengdu. Lobsang Dhondup was executed but Rinpoche’s suspended death sentence was commuted to life due to international pressure.

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche had been held in detention for over thirteen years since his conviction in December 2002 for a crime he never committed.

According to reliable sources inside Tibet, on 2 July 2015 three officials from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of Lithang County had come to meet Rinpoche’s sisters Donkar Lhamo and Sonam Dekyi asking them to leave with them for Chengdu to discuss the issue of Tenzin Delek.

07/04/2015 News / TCHRD Statements

China: Release reincarnated Tibetan Buddhist monk on medical parole

Today marks the 13^th anniversary of Tulku Tenzin Delek’s arbitrary and unjust arrest on 7 April 2002. His arrest eventually led to life imprisonment. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche is a revered Tibetan Buddhist lama from Lithang, Kardze, Kham, in present-day Sichuan Province. He is known for his campaigns to restore Tibetan culture and religion, social welfare activities and his criticism of repressive Chinese policies in Tibet. On 5 December 2002, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and his nephew were respectively sentenced to death with two years’ reprieve and death sentence. They were accused of being involved in a series of bomb attacks in Chengdu on 3 April 2003. Lobsang Dhondup was executed but Rinpoche’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to pressure from the world community.

07/04/2014 News / TCHRD Statements

12 Years Too Many: Release Tenzin Delek Rinpoche on medical parole

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) observes with deep concern the 12th anniversary of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s arbitrary arrest on 7 April 2002 which eventually led to life imprisonment.

Popularly known as A-Nga Tashi, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche is a highly-respected lama in Lithang County, Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan province of Kham. Rinpoche is renowned for his active involvement in the restoration of Tibetan culture and religion, social welfare activities and his bold statements about repressive Chinese policies in Tibet. On 5 December 2002, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and his nephew Lobsang Dhondup were sentenced to death with two years’ reprieve and death sentence respectively. Lobsang Dhondup was executed but Rinpoche’s suspended death sentence was commuted to life due to international pressure.

23/08/2007 News / TCHRD Statements

China arrest two Tibetan women for expressing support for Trulku Tenzin Delek in Lithang

Two Tibetan women, O’dho and Apha Bhomo, both in their late 50’s and residents of Othok Village, Nyagchuka County, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture “TAP” Sichuan Province, were arrested on 19 July 2007 by the Nyagchuka County Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials on alleged ‘crime’ of instigating people to join their call for Trulku Tenzin Delek’s release, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Both women are currently detained at Nyagchuka County PSB Detention Centre and authorities are known to have denied visitation right to their relatives. O’dho, a mother of nine children, was born in Sholong Township, Nyagchuka County, Kardze “TAP”, Sichuan Province. In addition, it was learnt that both O’dho’s sons, Kalsang Sungrab and Tenzin Tsoknyi were barred from attending their respective schools. Tenzin Tsoknyi who was studying at a private school in Lithang County was barred from attending the school and authorities even put restriction on their movement.