SFT calls for inquest into Tulku’s demise amid US - China human rights talks/ENG

2015. augusztus 14./phayul.com/TibetPress

eredeti cikk

By Tenzin Dharpo

DHARAMSHALA, August 14: Activist group Students for a Free Tibet has started a campaign demanding enquiry and ‘truth’ behind the death of a prominent Tibetan teacher and philanthropist Tulku Tenzin Delek on the sidelines of 19th ‘U.S-China Human Rights Dialogue’ underway in Washington, and a group of US senators urging President Obama to discuss “rights issue in China” during Xi Jinping’s visit to the US next month.

SFT apart from initiating vigils, protests and storming Chinese consulates has also launched a petition to send letters to all the foreign ministers of countries taking part in the upcoming G-20 summit in Antalya, Turkey in November. The letter documents the details of Tulku Tenzin Delek’s death in Chinese prison and urges the nation’s solidarity in demanding lawful disclosure of actual circumstances behind Tulku’s death.

Meanwhile, the group has also planned to hold the 49th day - post death Buddhist ritual for the Tibetan lama on September 30, which marks the seventh week since his mysterious death in a Chinese prison on July 12. The 49th day after death is of ritualistic significance in Tibetan funerary tradition. The day will be observed to commemorate the life and legacy of the departed besides revving up further momentum in pressuring China to admit foul-play in the situation.

The sudden and unceremonious demise of TTD last month in Chinese prison while serving a 13th year of a life sentence on false charges of ‘inciting separatism’ prompted unprecedented outrage and anger within Tibet to the effect of protests and confrontation between Chinese authorities and local Tibetans.

"Tenzin Delek Rinpoche had a dream that Tibetans would one day live as free people in our own homeland. To safeguard our culture, language and environment, he paid the ultimate price. We now owe it to him to rededicate ourselves to the Tibetan struggle and make his dream come true," said Dorjee Tseten, Asia Director of Students for a Free Tibet.

The 19th U.S-China Human Rights Dialogue is currently in progress in Washington with Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Tom Malinowski and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of International Organizations and Conferences Director-General, Li Junhua leading their delegations.

In his press briefing on Aug. 13, Malinowski said that his side saw “tremendous” problems in Tibet. “China could reduce tensions in Tibetan areas by renewing dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives and by respecting the religious practices of Tibetan Buddhists, like their ability to select reincarnate lamas or to handle the deceased with proper rituals. We also urged greater access to Tibetan areas by diplomats and journalists on the basis of reciprocity,” he told reporters.

The two sides will discuss rule of law, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, Internet freedom, the rights of ethnic minorities and other human rights issues in the ongoing meet. The meeting is believed to set pace on matters when the presidents of the either nation are scheduled to meet in September in the United States.