Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, of Tibetan descent, was detained on April 7, 2002, by the Yajiang County Public Security Bureau, and falsely charged as the “mastermind” behind a bombing in Tianfu Square in Chengdu, the provincial capital China’s southwestern Sichuan province.
Delek was also charged with “suspicion of inciting separatism” and “illegal possession of firearms.”
On Dec. 22, 2002, the Garze Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Delek to death with a two-year stay of execution. In 2005, his sentence was commuted to life in prison (Editor’s note: suspended death penalities are usually commuted to life in prison, unless the prisoner is alleged to have committed a crime in the first two years of his sentence).
Delek has served 11 years of his sentence. His health is rapidly deteriorating.
In 2009, more than 40,000 Tibetans signed and finger-printed a petition calling on the central government to retry Delek’s case.
Delek was born 1950, in Lithang County, Tibet.
Delek was also charged with “suspicion of inciting separatism” and “illegal possession of firearms.”
On Dec. 22, 2002, the Garze Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Delek to death with a two-year stay of execution. In 2005, his sentence was commuted to life in prison (Editor’s note: suspended death penalities are usually commuted to life in prison, unless the prisoner is alleged to have committed a crime in the first two years of his sentence).
Delek has served 11 years of his sentence. His health is rapidly deteriorating.
In 2009, more than 40,000 Tibetans signed and finger-printed a petition calling on the central government to retry Delek’s case.
Delek was born 1950, in Lithang County, Tibet.
China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chinaaid.org