GENEVA: Tibetans living in Switzerland & Liechtenstein organised a rally in front of the United Nations building in Geneva on 31 July to show solidarity with the recent death in prison of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a highly respected Tibetan religious leader and environmentalist, who died in Chinese prison while serving a life sentence.
Tibetans from 25 different communities in Switzerland and Liechtenstein under the coordination of Local Tibetan Assembly, Tibetan Women’s Association, Tibetan Youth Association of Europe, Swiss Tibet Friendship Association and the Office of Tibet took part in the rally. Around 200 Tibetans from every corner of Switzerland traveled voluntarily in the morning and observed a solidarity rally program for the untimely death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and Tibetan political prisoner Lobsang Yeshi who died on 19 July in a Lhasa hospital.
The rally started at 11:30 am local time with a singing of Tibetan national anthem followed by a minute’s silence in memory of the departed souls. The President of Local Tibetan Assembly Mr. Tenzin Nyingbu gave the introductory speech on recent incidents that happened in Tibet and appealed to the International Community for urgent intervention and impartial investigation into the causes of these mysterious deaths.
Mr. Ngodup Dorjee, Representative of the Tibet Bureau also addressed the gathering and expressed his concern over 11th Panchen Lama’s case on the basis of recent instances of repressive measures adopted Chinese authorities towards Tibetan political prisoners. He appealed to the United Nations and other rights groups, diplomats, Governments and international journalists to carry out urgent and independent investigation into the circumstances which led to Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death, and seek a response from the Chinese authorities concerning their failure to answer the application made by Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s family for medical parole; appoint a Special Rapporteur on Torture and a Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom or Belief to be able to visit and undertake independent investigations into this case; pressurise Chinese authorities to provide credible information on whereabouts of 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima and seek support of the UN High Commissioner’s own urgent mission to China and Tibet, as agreed during the last Universal Periodic Review, and use this visit to investigate the conditions of Tibetans in Chinese custody.
Mr. René Longet, former administrative advisor (Mayor) of Onex (canton of Geneva), Mr. Tethong Wangpo, Tibetan Member of Parliament from Europe, Representative of Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association, and Representative from Tibetan Women Association, Switzerland were also among the speakers.
At the same day, a prayer service was organised by the Tibetan community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein at Rikon Choekhorling Monastery to mourn the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.
– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Geneva –
