(Please contact Free Tibet Campaign if acting after 26 January 2005)

December 2 2004 could well mark the execution date of respected religious leader, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. Free Tibet Campaign needs your help to save Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche's life and ensure that the Chinese authorities are left in no doubt that it would face world-wide condemnation if Rinpoche was executed.

Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche was given a two year suspended death sentence on December 2 2002 that was confirmed at an appeal on January 26 2003. In practical terms, a suspended death sentence means that the authorities could decide either to execute him at the end of the two years or commute his sentence to life imprisonment, as is commonly the case. The decision whether to execute him or not is apparently based on whether the authorities judge him to have "behaved".

Equally unjust would be to condemn Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche to a lifetime in prison for a crime he did not commit. Moreover, a life sentence in Tibet's prisons can constitute a death sentence in itself as a result of torture and inhumane prison conditions.

Although China had confirmed to the European Union in February 2004 that the suspended death sentence was due to expire on December 2 2004, some China watchers believe that it may actually be dated from the time of the failed appeal (this would mean January 26 2005). It is therefore imperative, that we continue to step up our efforts to save Rinpoche, regardless of whether it is December 2 or January 26.

Background to the case

Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche (Chinese translation of his name: A'an Zhaxi) is an important religious leader in Sichuan Province who had been harassed by the authorities for over a decade as a result of his religious, cultural, humanitarian and environmental rights work. He was accused, along with 28 year old farmer Lobsang Dhondup, of being involved in a series of explosions in Sichuan in April 2002.

Both he and Lobsang Dhondup were held for eight months without access to lawyers, friends, family or medical personnel. At their trial in November/December 2002 they alleged that they had been tortured. The only evidence ever produced to convict Rinpoche was a confession, made under torture and later retracted at the first trial, by his co-accused Lobsang Dhondup.

Rinpoche's case has been the subject of an international campaign since December 2002 and has been raised variously by the UK Government to the Chinese in the bi-annual human rights dialogue, the US Government and the EU, as well as organisations such as Free Tibet Campaign, the international Tibet movement, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Human Rights in China, amongst others.

As part of the Chinese authorities' crackdown on religious freedom, and to prevent the local community from campaigning or helping to fund his release, 44 men were held for periods ranging from 4 days to a few months whilst a further 60 men were repeatedly questioned. 100 men fled the region. Two men are currently serving sentences of seven and five years respectively (Tashi Phuntsok, a fellow monk and Lobsang Tenphen, aka Tabo or Taphel). Five men were released early from labour camp and prison in 2003 following international pressure and all are rumoured to be in poor health following their treatment.

Lobsang Dhondup was executed on January 26, 2003 whilst Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche was moved to a secret location following the failure of his appeal. Both men had been denied independent legal representation and neither hearing apparently conformed to international fair trial standards. It was only confirmed in February 2004 to the European Union that he was being held at the remote Chuangdong Prison in Sichuan Province. It is not known whether he has been allowed to see anyone since he was taken to Chuangdong Prison on January 26 2003. There are thus profound fears for his health and safety.

Take Action

There are 3 things that you can do to help raise the pressure on the Chinese authorities: Please encourage your friends, family and colleagues to join you in this!