Justice for Tenzin Delek

Timeline

Major events in Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's life

April 2002

"Arrest"

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and his 28-yr-old assistant, Lobsang Dondrub, were sentenced to death on charges of terror and incitement to separatism related to bombing in centre of Chengdu. These trumped charges were used to execute Lobsang immediately - the first execution of a Tibetan for political crimes for 20 years.
2004

False charges

New York-based Human Rights Watch concluded that the legal proceedings against Tenin Delek Rinpoche had been "procedurally flawed" and he had been charged to "curb his efforts to foster Tibetan Buddhism ... and his work to develop Tibetan social and cultural institutions."
2014

Medical Parole Rejected

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's family applies medical parole in 2014 as he was gravely unwell, but the Chinese authorities never respond.
July 2015

Murder

On July 12th, Tenzin Delek's family was informed by Chinese police that he had passed away in a prison near Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
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China must answer for this crime. Please send the letter below to the Foreign Ministers of the G20 countries calling for an international inquiry into his death.

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It is with grave concern that I write with regard to the death of highly respected Tibetan leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche on 12 July 2015. Tenzin Delek was held in Chinese custody for over 13 years for a crime he did not commit. He was charged with "causing explosions" and "inciting separatism", charges for which no evidence was ever provided and against which he steadfastly maintained his innocence.

His family applied for his release on medical parole in 2014, knowing that he was gravely unwell. However the Chinese authorities never responded to this application, despite his eligibility.

Tenzin Delek's untimely death throws a spotlight on the torture and horrific conditions that Tibetan political prisoners face when detained by Chinese authorities. China cannot continue to sweep rampant abuses under the carpet, and the international community cannot allow this to happen without holding the perpetrators to account.

I urge you to immediately demand a public inquiry into the circumstances of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's death. He was a political prisoner at the top of the priority listing for a number of countries and his passing must be officially acknowledged and the causes investigated.

I also ask that you appeal to your Chinese counterparts that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's body is returned to his family so that they can carry out final Tibetan Buddhist religious rites.

I also wish to see our government express strong condemnation at the passing of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche; and convey to China its concern that he was sentenced in secrecy for a crime he did not commit, and China's failure to respond to the application for medical parole.

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

Timeline

Major events in Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's life

April 2002

"Arrest"

2004

False charges

2014

Medical Parole Rejected

July 2015

Murder

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