Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche is a Tibetan monk and spiritual leader who has been in prison since 2002, and is serving a life sentence for "crimes of terror" and "incitement of separatism." He continues to assert his innocence. Before his arrest, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche sought to strengthen the Tibetan community, including by working to build schools, monasteries, and medical facilities, and by reaching out to the poor. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche supported the Dalai Lama, developed Tibetan cultural and religious institutions, and was also active in the local environmental movement, speaking out against deforestation practices that were harmful to the local community. Tenzin Delek's activism on this range of issues made him a target of the Chinese authorities, who for ten years attempted to limit his work and influence. He was detained and then arrested on April 7, 2002, accused of involvement in a series of bombings in Sichuan Province between 1998 and 2002. Another Tibetan, Lobsang Dondrup, had been arrested for an April 3, 2002, bombing in Chengdu, and the authorities stated that he linked Tenzin Delek Rinpoche to the bombings in his confession, though no record of the confession exists.
Case recommended to: Czech Olympic team
Text and image source: Human Rights in China
Author: Olympic Watch | Section: Cases | Print | Send to friend