Dharamshala: Reports are emerging that Chinese authorities from Sichuan Province have arrested four of the five petitioners for Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. They were detained while travelling to Beijing secretly to present the Chinese government with a heavily supported written petition calling for his immediate release.
"On July 9, 2013 Dolkar, the sister of Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and four male disciples of Rinpoche secretly traveled to Beijing and presented an appeal to the related Chinese departments based in Beijing for the release of their respected spiritual master," Tsering Dorjee, one of the senior disciples of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche told The Tibet Post International (TPI).
They presented the written appeal supported by over 30,000 followers with their signatures to the concerned departments in Beijing. Dorjee said that "in the petition they stressed again on the innocence of Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche in the incident of the bomb blast vouched by over thirty thousand followers with their signatures attached to the petition."
Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche who is 63 was detained on April 7, 2002 at Jamyang Choekhorling monastery in Ganzi. He was accused of being involved in a bomb blast on April 3, 2002 on the central square of Sichuan's capital Chengdu. He was sentenced to death in December 2002 with a two-year execution adjournment along with Lobsang Dhondup, a 28 year old assistant. His aide was executed immediately in January 2003. The local Tibetans appealed in masses in Nyagchukha and Lithang County for his release and his sisters traveled early to Beijing and presented a petition. Sources claimed that the sisters were allowed to meet Rinpoche only once.
"In the same petition, they appealed that the Rinpoche should be released as soon as possible. If that is not possible, he should be given medical parole and provided medical treatment. If that does't happen, then his case should be reviewed and be given the opportunity to present his case with the help of independent lawyers." said Dorjee.
"The five petitioners also explained in the same petition they were taking the risk of traveling directly to Beijing with hope and trust for a concerned department to listen to their appeal and review. They also explained that they should have petitioned through the concerned lower levels of authorities, but the process is too long and difficult to address the request fairly." Tsering Dorjee, a Tibetan in exile with contact in Nagchukha County, Kham region of eastern Tibet (Chinese: Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan) Dorjee told TPI.
"When Nyakchukha County (Chinese: Yajiang Xian) police knew about the petition, five petitioners were escorted back to their homes in Nyakchukha County. When they arrived at Nyagchukha, except for Dolkar, sister of Rinpoche, four male petitioners were detained on July 20, 2013. Those detained are Sokrang Lorig and LukDzi Abe from Othok township, Lhama Choedruk from Upper Golok township, and Trinley from Due township in Lower Nyakchukha. They were detained by Nyagchukha police and placed in Gara detention center in Nyagchukha County." said Dorjee.
"I am a Tibetan, I have always been sincere and devoted to the interests and well-being of Tibetan people. That is the real reason why the Chinese do not like me and framed me. That is why they are going to take my precious life even though I am innocent," Rinpoche said in a message to his followers.
Tenzin Delek told a family member during a visit at the prison; "I am not responsible for these explosions or any other illegal actions, they have pinned this on me, I have always taught people that one should not harm any life, not even that of an ant, how could I then possibly be responsible for such an action? If it is possible to appeal, there is hope that I may be cleared of all charges."
He is reportedly in very poor health believed to be linked to the torture he has endured since his arrest. He is currently known to be suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease and problems with his legs. This most recent development in a seemingly never-ending string of abuses concerning Tenzin Delek, shows that the Chinese government's stance is, as ever, unflinching despite his mass support.
