|
[
back ] **URGENT ACTION ALERT*** Free Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and the Lithang Detainees! THE LITHANG DETAINEES: Choetsom (m), aged 19; Pasang (m), aged approximately 19: thought to be monks from Jamyang Choekhorling monastery, reportedly went missing on April 8, 2002, after being interrogated and beaten by police during the raid on the monastery the day before, and have not been seen since. It is unclear whether they are in hiding or in police custody. Tashi Phuntsok (m), aged 39: also from Jamyang Choekhorling monastery, was arrested on or around April 21, 2002, while he was in Nyagchu hospital undergoing treatment for tuberculosis. He is believed to remain in detention, although it is not known whether he has been charged or sentenced; no information has been obtainable about his current state of health. Tabo (m) aged 37: businessman: was arrested on February 12, 2003 in Lithang in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan province; suspected of leaking information on Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's detention, trial, and torture; is being held incommunicado at an undisclosed location. It is not known whether any charges have been brought against him. RELEASED! Tsultrim Dargye (m), aged 36; Tamdring Tsering (m), aged 33; Ashar (or Aka) Dhargye (m), aged 40: monks reportedly arrested along with Tenzin Delek Rinpoche on April 7, 2002, at Jamyang Choekhorling monastery in Nyagchu county (Ch: Yajiang county), Sichuan province; Tamdring Tsering was reportedly beaten severely by police on arrest. All three were released in early April 2003 after serving one-year "reeducation through labor" sentences (forced labor). Dhidhi (m) aged 43: businessman and close relative of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche: was arrested on February 14, 2003 in Lithang in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan province; had represented Rinpoche's family at Dec. 2, 2002 trial; suspected of leaking information on Rinpoche's detention, trial, and torture; was held incommunicado at an undisclosed location, but was released in early April 2003. Tserang Dondrup (m), (also known as Jortse or Jotse), aged approximately 65: was arrested with another man on or around May 7, 2002, after having collected 20,000 signatures on a petition to deter an earlier apparent attempt to arrest Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. While the other man has been released, Jortse, an elderly villager, was tried in Nyagchu and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment; was released on July 11, 2003. According to local reports, at the time of his release, Tserang could not see or walk, and ³his hands were not working.² He attempted to communicate people, but his speech was unintelligible. No further information is available on his state of health. [
back ] |
