Tenzin Delek

Around sixty local Tibetans from Nyagchuka County (Ch: Yajiang Xian), Kardze “Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (“TAP”), Sichuan Province has been arrested by local Public Security Bureau (PSB) while appealing for an immediate release of well known local spiritual figure Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

On 5 December 2009, a group of seven Tibetans which later swelled to around sixty Tibetans, mostly youth from Othog proceeded to Nyagchuka County government headquarter to appeal for an immediate release of Tulku Tenzin Delek, stating that their revered spiritual teacher was wrongly charged and sentenced by the Sichuan Higher People’s Court in 2002.

It was on the night of 5 December 2009, petitioners who gathered at County government headquarter for the entire day were rounded up and taken to an unknown location.

Sources told TCHRD on the morning of 6 December 2009, motorbikes and clothes belonging to petitioners were left unattended with bloodstains. There were also bloodstains on ground as well. The petitioners are largely believed to be detained in a military compound near Nyagchuka County.

Thereafter Tibetans from various parts of Nyagchuka County have been flocking to Nyagchuka County government headquarter to obtain the release of around sixty Tibetan detainees. However Chinese security forces on the way stopped them from reaching the County Headquarter. Meanwhile a fairly large contingent of People’s Armed Police (PAP) has been brought to place called Thang Karma (White Open Field) practicing martial acts and military drills to intimidate the local Tibetans.

Meanwhile, sources say that many elderly Tibetans and children has been going to the Chinese government Township office at Thang Karma (White Open Field) to appeal to the Chinese government to release Tulku Tenzin Delek.

Despite their petitions, Chinese officials have been turning their deaf ears to their sincere and legitimate call. Nonetheless, the local Tibetans are still holding on to their hopes for an immediate release of their revered spiritual figure.

THE CONTENT OF PETITION

The main content of the petition dealt on describing Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche as their much loved and revered spiritual teacher, immensely important to the local Tibetans. Tulku also being described as a guide, teacher, father figure to them, particularly local Tibetans sought his advice on a range of matters concerning their livelihood. In their appeal they stated that Tulku used to mediate in many land and pasture disputes amongst the local nomads. In his absence in the last seven years, there have been many disputes over land and pasture ownerships, which led to deaths of several Tibetans. They also described that Tulku’s absence has been keenly felt and that they are too eager to feel the spiritual presence of Tulku. They also described that they need a spiritual guide who could perform religious rites for Tibetan devotees, particularly to perform Phowa (transferring of consciousness) rite related to guiding the consciousness of dead people in their journey to the next lives. They also explained that to regain peace and harmony once existed in the locality, Tulku must be released and once again be amongst them.

UNFAIR TRIAL AND SENTENCING

Lithang Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was born 1950, in Lithang, Tibet, is a revered local spiritual figure. In 2002, series of bomb blasts incident took place in Sichuan Province, which the Chinese officials later charged him of his carrying out the bomb blasts. His relative Lobsang Dhondup charged along with him was immediately executed after closed trial, marking the first execution of a Tibetan in 20 years. Tenzin Delek was granted a two-year reprieve, which was later commuted to life imprisonment on 26 January 2005. Tulku Tenzin Delek also worked for the welfare of local Tibetans in Lithang, in health, education and religious institutions for Tibetan nomads in eastern Tibet. He was also ardent advocate for the conservation of environment in the light of China rampant logging and mining, and a mediator of all kinds of disputes amongst the local Tibetans. He was known to be an outspoken admirer and follower of the Dalai Lama, whom he previously had an audience in India. He was immensely popular for his unassuming personality and relating to the everyday needs and problems of ordinary Tibetans in Lithang. Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, now 59, is currently serving his life sentence in an unknown Chinese administered prison.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) calls upon the Chinese government to respond to the petition of the Tibetan people in Nyagchuka County.