Demonstrations in Tibet in support of imprisoned lama, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche PDF Print E-mail
17 December, 2009 International Campaign for Tibet

Security has been stepped up in of the Tibetan area of Kham, part of present-day Sichuan province, and dozens of Tibetans have been detained and beaten after peaceful demonstrations in support of the imprisoned Tibetan lama, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, a highly respected religious teacher serving a life sentence. Increased numbers of armed police and troops have been stationed in towns and villages where protests occurred - in an area that is already tense since demonstrations against Chinese rule spread across Tibet in March 2008. The movement of people in protest areas is now restricted and in one area soldiers have warned local people that they will shoot to kill if necessary.


Following peaceful protests involving hundreds of people on December 5, 2009, a group of local lamas appealed to the county government to allow local people to see Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, fearing that if this request was not granted, Tibetans in the area might “rise up in protest,” according to a Tibetan in exile who is in contact with several local Tibetans. The authorities offered some concessions as a result although it is not known if they will be implemented. At least 20 Tibetans remain in detention and according to sources in the area, all detainees were “mercilessly beaten,” leaving many injured and hospitalized.

The risks that Tibetans in Kham continue to take during a time of crackdown in Tibet are indicative of the influence and popularity of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche – among both the Tibetan community and many Chinese Buddhists - and what he represents. Before his detention in 2002 on alleged bombing charges which he denies, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche founded schools for nomad children, set up elderly people’s homes, worked with local officials to protect forests and was well-known for his efforts to preserve Tibetan culture. Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche is being held in Mianyang Prison in Sichuan and there are fears for his welfare as his health is poor. One report indicates that his life sentence may have been reduced to a fixed term sentence of 20 years, which means there is a possibility of a reduction in the sentence, but this could not be confirmed.

Read a full report on the demonstrations and the history of the Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche case here.

 

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