UCS 07/02/03: Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche moved

Two Weeks After Execution Body of Lobsang Dhondup Still Not Released to Family

Urgent Campaign - 7 February 2003

(Please contact Free Tibet Campaign if acting after 31 March 2003. In interests of time we are using information from Amnesty International's Urgent Action. As soon as we have further information on this case we will update this page.) This is an update to Urgent Campaign of 28 January 2003

Latest News and Actions

 

Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche has reportedly been moved to a secret location after his sentence was upheld on 26 January 2003. He remains at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Meanwhile his relatives, and relatives of Lobsang Dhondup who was executed on 26 January, have reportedly been threatened with punishment by the authorities if they speak about the case publicly. One relative was quoted as saying, "We are completely helpless, in a state of great fear of arrest and torture."

On 4 February, Radio Free Asia reported that it had interviewed relatives of the two men. During the interview the relatives claimed that the Chinese authorities had banned them from speaking publicly about the case and from travelling. They also stated that they only learned about Lobsang Dhondup's death from a public leaflet issued five days after his execution, and that his body had not yet been returned to his family. It is feared that this may indicate that the body bears marks of torture.

According to the relatives, the public leaflet stated that Lobsang Dhondup had been executed because he was found guilty of a series of bombings, because he had caused great economic damage to the Chinese Government and because many had been killed. The leaflet also reportedly named Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche as the instigator of the bombings and said that he possessed leaflets calling for independence for Tibet.

There is no further news about others who were reportedly detained in connection with this case. They are:
Tsultrim Dargye (m), aged 36
Tamdring Tsering (m), aged 33
Ashar (or Aka) Dhargye (m), aged 40
Tashi Phuntsok (m), aged 39
Tserang Dondrup (also known as Jortse or Jotse) (m), aged approximately 65, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment. He has apparently lost all movement down one leg, possibly as a result of torture.

The whereabouts of the two young monks who had been interrogated following the police visit to the monastery and who subsequently disappeared has still not been clarified. They areChoetsom, aged 19 and Pasang, aged approximately 19.

 

Please write to those listed below requesting the following actions:

  • Call on the authorities to publicly clarify the current whereabouts of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche (Chinese name: A An Zha Xi) and provide immediate guarantees for his safety.

     

  • Urge the authorities to ensure that he has access to his family, a lawyer and medical treatment while he remains in detention.

     

  • Express concern that relatives of the two men have reportedly been threatened and prevented from discussing the case publicly and urging the authorities to ensure that they are not subjected to further intimidation or other human rights violations.

     

  • Express concern at reports that Lobsang Dhondup's body has not been returned to his family and asking that this be done without further delay.

     

  • Express grave concern that the trials of both Lobsang Dhondup (Ch: Luo Rang Deng Zhu) and Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche were unfair, and call on the authorities to either release Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche unconditionally or conduct a re-trial in an open court in line with international fair trial standards.

     

  • Call on the authorities to reveal the names and whereabouts of all those believed to be detained in connection with this case, to clarify the charges against them and to release them unless they are charged or convicted of a recognisable criminal offence.


    (Note: Fax numbers may be difficult to obtain and emails may be returned but please keep trying)

    1. The Chinese Ambassador to the UK
    Email: press@chinese-embassy.org.uk
    Name: His Excellency Zha Peixin
    Address: 49-51 Portland Place
    London W1N 3AH
    Fax: 020 7636 2981 or 020 7636 5578
    (Salutation: Your Excellency)

    2. Acting Governor of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government
    Email: sichuan@mail.sc.gov.cn
    Name: Zhang Zhongwei Daishengzhang
    Address: Sichuansheng Renmin Zhengfu
    Duyuanjie
    Chengdushi
    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)
    (Salutation: Dear Governor)

    3. Minister of Justice
    Email: minister@legalinfo.gov.cn
    Name: Zhang Fusen Buzhang
    Address: Sifabu
    10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
    Chaoyangqu
    Xiaguangli
    Beijingshi 100020
    People's Republic of China
    Fax: +86 10 65 292 345 (c/o Ministry of Communications)
    Telegram: Justice Minister, Beijing, China
    Telexes: 210070 FMPRC CN or 22478 MFERT CN
    (Salutation: Dear Minister)

    4. Director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Justice
    Name: Zeng Xianzhang Tingzhang
    Address: 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 Government)
    Telegram: Director, Sichuan Justice Department, Chengdu, China
    (Salutation: Dear Director)

    5. President of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China
    Name: Xiao Yang Yuanzhang
    Address: Zuigao Renmin Fayuan
    27 Dongjiao Min Xiang
    Beijingshi 100726
    People's Republic of China
    Fax: + 86 10 6529 2345 (c/o Ministry of Communications)
    Telegram: President of Supreme People's Court, Beijing, China
    (Salutation: Dear President)

    (Please send copies of any responses to Free Tibet Campaign; this helps us to monitor the situation.)

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