[16 July 2015] Take action: Call on the UK government to make a strong statement condemning the death in prison of revered monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and call on China to hold an investigation into the death and make the findings public.
UPDATE 29 July: Also call for the release of Tenzin Delek’s sister and niece who have been detained and whereabouts currently unknown.
Take Action
1. Sign the international petition
2. Write to your MP
3. Write to the Chinese authorities
Background information & links
1. Sign the international petition
The petition calls on China to provide answers regarding Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death.
Click here to sign the petition. Then help spread the message via social media.
Suggested text for Twitter: Call on #China to investigate the death in prison of innocent Tibetan monk #TenzinDelekRinpoche Sign petition http://bit.ly/TenzinDelek_TibSoc
Suggested text for Facebook: Call on China to investigate the death in prison of innocent Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and explain why they did not grant him medical parole. Sign petition at http://bit.ly/TenzinDelek_TibSoc
2. Write to your MP
Ask your MP to contact the Foreign Office to urge the Foreign Secretary to make a public statement condemning China over their failure to grant medical parole to Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and for allowing him to die in prison. Specifically, the Foreign Secretary should include the following points in his statement:
► Condemn China over the death in prison of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and their failure to release him on medical parole.
► Call on China to launch an official inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and to make the findings public. (Principle 34 of UN Resolution 43/173 states that inquiries should be held when a person dies in custody and the findings made available.)
► Demand China immediately releases Dolkar Lhamo and Nyima Lhamo, the sister and niece of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche who have been detained simply for querying their relative’s death and for requesting the release of his body.
► Call on China to allow Tibetans the right to mourn and peacefully protest in public and to ensure security forces exercise restraint in dealing with public gatherings.
► Urge China to adhere to international standards on the treatment of prisoners, including the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, provision of medical treatment and the right to visits by family members. (As specified, for example, by the United Nations’ Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, first adopted in 1955 and in subsequent resolutions.)
Note: Letters/emails in your own words are most effective, though please feel free to copy the points above.
In the UK: go to www.writetothem.com to find your MP’s contact details.
Outside the UK: write to your parliamentarian and ask them to call on your country’s government to make a statement condemning the death in prison of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.
3. Write to the Chinese authorities
Call on the Chinese government to:
► Launch an official inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and to make the findings public. Note that Principle 34 of UN Resolution 43/173 states that the authorities are obligated to hold an inquiry when a person dies in custody and to make the findings accessible to the public.
► Immediately release Dolkar Lhamo and Nyima Lhamo, the sister and niece of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche who have been detained simply for querying their relative’s death and for requesting the release of his body. Also ensure their well-being until they are released.
► Allow Tibetans the right to mourn the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and peacefully protest in public and to ensure security forces exercise restraint in dealing with public gatherings in Tibet and its regions.
► Adhere to international standards on the treatment of prisoners, including the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, provision of medical treatment and the right to visits by family members. For example, the UN’s Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, first adopted in 1955 and in subsequent resolutions.
Chinese Ambassador to the UK
Ambassador Liu Xiaoming
Chinese Embassy
49-51 Portland Place
London W1B 1JL.
Email: ambassador@chinese-embassy.org.uk
Salutation: Your Excellency
Outside the UK: check the Chinese government’s webpage listing embassies for contact details of your nearest ambassador and embassy.
Note: The Chinese government occasionally disables email addresses (so your email is returned). If that happens please try political@chinese-embassy.org.uk and/or press_uk@mfa.gov.cn. If these fail please send a letter.
If you receive a reply to your email or letter, please send a copy to Tibet Society, as this helps us to monitor the situation. Click here for Tibet Society contact details.
On 12 July 2015, China announced imprisoned monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche had died. The Chinese authorities have given no reason for his death. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche had been serving a life sentence for a crime he did not commit. He had served 13 years of his sentence and been denied medical parole despite serious ill-health and numerous requests from his family and international governments.
China is obligated to investigate the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, as specified in various United Nations resolutions.
To date, the UK government has only commented on Tenzin Delek’s death, saying it was “saddened” by the news (Reuters, 13 July). The death is an outrage given Tenzin Delek’s innocence, ill-health and repeated calls for his release on medical parole.
Tibet Society and Students for a Free Tibet UK submitted a joint letter on 15 July, calling on the UK to make a strong statement denouncing China over the death in prison of an innocent monk. Please support our call to the Foreign Secretary by signing the international petition, writing to your MP and writing to the Chinese authorities.
