Dharamshala – Tibetan organisations held an event to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the death of Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a prominent Tibetan political prisoner, and to present the Tenzin Delek Rinpoche Medal of Courage to Dorjee Tashi, a well-known Tibetan businessman and Tibetan political prisoner, along with his sister Gonpo Kyi, in Dharamshala on July 12, 2023.
The Tibetan Women's Association (TWA), the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT), Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) and the International Tibet Network (ITN) collectively organised the event to pay tribute to the perseverance and courage of the late Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. The commemoration of the 8th anniversary of Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's death took place at Norbu House, Dharamshala, on July 12, 2023, where Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's medal of courage was awarded. 2023 Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's Medal of Courage was awarded to Dorjee Tashi, a famous Tibetan businessman and Tibetan political prisoner, and his sister Gonpo Kyi.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, of the Central Tibetan Administration, was the chief guest, and former Tibetan political prisoner and filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen, as well as the Venerable Tsering Dorjee, a student of late Tenzin Delek Rinpoche were guest of honour, and Wangdhen Kyab, senior researcher at Tibet Watch, all addressed the gathering. The event was attended by Presidents and representatives of Tibetan non-governmental organisations, as well as Tibetans living in Dharamshala.
Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was a highly respected monk and influential community leader in Tibet. Known throughout Tibet for his work in building schools, orphanages and monasteries, Rinpoche was also responsible for stopping the clear-cutting of forests in Tibet. He was arrested on April 7th 2002 and convicted for his alleged involvement in a bomb explosion in the city of Chengdu, Sichuan. The Chinese authorities refused him the assistance of a lawyer of his choice, denied him access to the evidence against him and tried him in secret. After spending 13 years in a Chinese prison, during which he was severely tortured, Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche sadly died in a Chinese prison on July 12, 2015.
Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche once said, "Since 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."
The winners of this year's Tenzin Delek Rinpoche Medal of Courage are Dorjee Tashi, a well-known Tibetan businessman and hotel owner who was detained by Chinese authorities in 2008 as part of the communist government's response to a significant uprising in Tibet, and his sister Gonpo Kyi, who staged a number of overt protests to demand justice for her brother, Dorjee Tashi.
The organising committee states that Dorjee Tashi received the medal "for his charitable activities, support, and dedication to the Tibetan people, while his sister, Gonpo Kyi, has also been honoured for her unwavering determination to fight for her brother's rights to justice." Due to their inability to collect the medals, the President of Tibetan Women’s Association and the national Director of Students for a Free Tibet received the awards from Sikyong Tsering on behalf of Gonpo Kyi and Dorjee Tashi, respectively.
Former political prisoners Dhondup Wangchen and Ven Tsering Dorjee spoke about their experiences as political prisoners in Chinese jails and the torture they endured. They said that such tortures were unbearable and Ven Tsering said that if he had the chance to commit suicide, he would do so. They also recalled their involvement in political movements in Tibet.
A video message from Nyima Lhamo, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's niece was also played at the event. She said, "July 12 marks one of the saddest days in my life. I can not imagine how the Chinese authorities beat and tortured you during the 13 years you spent in Chinese custody, they beat you to death. Every time I mention or talk about your stories it brings tears to my eyes."
Lhamo escaped into exile in 2016 after the Chinese government stepped up harassment of her and her family. She escaped so that she could continue to share her uncle's story and the stories of countless other Tibetans inside Tibet.
Sikyong praised the steadfast spirit of Tibetan political prisoners and activists in Tibet, and their determination to fight for freedom despite the repressive policies of the People's Republic of China. While calling on the Chinese administration to respect international human rights standards, he criticised the Chinese government for its harsh policies and brutal treatment of political prisoners. Sikyong informed the audience about the ongoing conflicts between China and its neighbours as well as other democratic countries, in order to highlight the consequences of the Chinese government's negligence, given Beijing's reputation for not respecting international standards.
The event ended with a speech by Dr Lobsang Yangtso, who called on Tibetan youth to draw inspiration from the life and struggles of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and to continue to make their voice heard for the Tibetan cause.
