Two Tibetans have been sentenced to death by Kardze Intermediate People's Court, in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has issued a statement concerning Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche (layname: Ngawang Tashi) and Lobsang Dhondup, who were both accused of being involved in a bomb blast incident on 3 April 2002 in the main square of Chengdu, provinicial capital of Sichuan Province. On 2 December 2002 the court sentenced Lobsang Dhondup with an immediate death penalty and Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche to death with a suspension of two years. TCHRD's statement has been corroborated by a report in the Sichuan People's Daily on 3 December 2002.

The two defendants were also charged with "illegal possession of arms" and "engaging in splittist activities". Chinese criminal law grants defendants a right to appeal within ten days of sentence, but such appeals are rarely successful. (Sentence 2 December 2002, right of appeal until 12 December 2002.)

Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche is a highly respected senior teacher from Lithang County in Kardze. He was taken into custody on the night of 7 April 2002 along with three students but no further information was forthcoming until the trial. TCHRD reported that Rinpoche challenged the allegations made against him and the fairness of the court proceedings. When he shouted "Long Live the Dalai Lama" he was gagged by security officials and dragged into another room.

The sentencing seems linked not only to China's efforts to crackdown on 'terrorism', but also to control the influence of religious leaders in Tibet. There have been attempts to detain Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche in the past. A source told the Tibet Information Network in May, "The authorities' accusations seem to be very vague - they are not saying that he planted the bombs but that he was involved in some sort of conspiracy." An amendment to China's Criminal Law adopted in December 2001 increases punishments for people who "organise or lead a terrorist organisation" from three to ten years imprisonment to between ten years and life imprisonment (Article 120 of the Criminal Law). The term "terrorist organisation" is not defined in the law and it could be interpreted to cover religious or other groups that act in ways that are perceived as being in opposition to the state, but which have apparently not engaged in violent activities.

PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY, calling for the sentences to be overturned, and the immediate and unconditional release of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche and Lobsang Dhondup.

1. Minister of Justice
Zhang Fusen Buzhang
Sifabu
Xiaguangli
Beijingshi 100016
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 65 292 345
Telexes: 210070 FMPRC CN or 22478 MFERT CN
(Salutation: Your Excellency)

2. Acting Governor of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government
Zhang Zhongwei Daishengzhang
Sichuansheng Renmin Zhengfu
Duyuanjie
Chengdushi
Sichuansheng
People's Republic of China
E-mail: sichuan@mail.sc.gov.cn
Fax: +86 28 8435 6784 or +86 28 8435 6789 (c/o Foreign Affairs office of Sichuan Provincial People's Government)
(Salutation: Dear Governor)

3. Director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Justice
Zeng Xianzhang Tingzhang
Sifating
24 Shangxianglu
Chengdushi 610015
Sichuansheng
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 28 8435 6784 or +86 28 8435 6789 (c/o Foreign affairs office of Sichuan Provincial People's Government)
Telegram: Director, Sichuan Justice Department, Chengdu, China
(Salutation: Dear Director)