U.S. Senate Passes Resolution Calling for Release of Chinese Political Prisoners, Including Tenzin Deleg
CECC Summary
The U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 483 by unanimous consent on Tuesday, December 7. The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that, "China is in violation of international human rights standards by detaining and mistreating Tibetans who engage in peaceful activities to protest China's repression of Tibetans or promote the preservation of a distinct Tibetan identity," and calls on China to release imprisoned Tibetan lama Tenzin Deleg and all other political prisoners.
CECC Comment
Tenzin Deleg, a resident of Ganzi (Kardze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in Sichuan Province, was sentenced on December 2, 2002, to death with a two-year reprieve on charges of conspiracy in a series of bomb blasts in 2001 and 2002. One of Tenzin Deleg’s former students, Lobsang Dondrub, was charged with carrying out the bombings and sentenced to death. Both men were tried in a closed court in Kangding, the capital of Ganzi prefecture, on November 29, 2002. Chinese officials have refused to disclose details about the evidence used against the men, claiming that it involves "state secrets." On January 26, 2003, the Sichuan High People’s court approved both sentences and rejected Tenzin Deleg’s appeal. Lobsang Dondrub was executed the same day.
Analysts have expressed concern about the procedures used to convict Tenzin Deleg. Based on Chinese law, the last day of his reprieve would be January 25, 2005. According to the law, a prisoner serving a reprieved death sentence will receive a commutation to life imprisonment, or a fixed term of imprisonment of 15-20 years, unless he commits another intentional crime during the reprieve. The law stipulates that the prisoner must be tried on the new charges. If he is convicted, he is entitled to appeal the verdict. So far, no information has become public suggesting that Tenzin Deleg has been charged with committing a new crime during his reprieve.
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the detention of Tibetan political prisoners by the Government of the People's Republic of China. (Agreed to by Senate)
SRES 483 ATS
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 483
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the detention of Tibetan political prisoners by the Government of the People's Republic of China.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 7, 2004
Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. DURBIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
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RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the detention of Tibetan political prisoners by the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Whereas, according to the Department of State and international human rights organizations, the Government of the People's Republic of China continues to commit widespread and well-documented human rights abuses in Tibet;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has yet to demonstrate its willingness to abide by internationally accepted standards of freedom of belief, expression, and association by repealing or amending laws and decrees that restrict those freedoms;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has detained hundreds of Tibetan nuns, monks, and lay persons as political prisoners for speaking out against China's occupation of Tibet and for their efforts to preserve Tibet's distinct national identity;
Whereas Phuntsog Nyidron was arrested on October 14, 1989, together with 5 other nuns, for participating in a peaceful protest against China's occupation of Tibet;
Whereas, on February 26, 2004, following a sustained international campaign on her behalf, the Government of the People's Republic of China released Phuntsog Nyidron from detention after she served more than 14 years of her 16-year sentence;
Whereas Tenzin Delek, a prominent Tibetan religious leader, and 3 other monks were arrested on April 7, 2002, during a nighttime raid on Jamyang Choekhorling monastery in Nyagchu County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture;
Whereas, following a closed trial and more than 8 months of incommunicado detention, Tenzin Delek and another Tibetan, Lobsang Dhondup, were convicted of inciting separatism and for their alleged involvement in a series of bombings on December 2, 2002;
Whereas Lobsang Dhondup was sentenced to death and Tenzin Delek was sentenced to death with a 2-year suspension;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China told senior officials of the United States and other governments that the cases of Lobsang Dhondup and Tenzin Delek would be subjected to a `lengthy review' by the Supreme People's Court prior to the death sentences being carried out;
Whereas the Supreme People's Court never carried out this review, and Lobsang Dhondup was executed on January 26, 2003;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has failed to produce any evidence that either Lobsang Dhondup or Tenzin Delek were involved in the crimes for which they were convicted, despite repeated requests from officials of the United States and other governments;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China continues to imprison Tibetans for engaging in peaceful efforts to protest China's repression of Tibetans and preserve the Tibetan identity;
Whereas Tibetan political prisoners are routinely subjected to beatings, electric shock, solitary confinement, and other forms of torture and inhumane treatment while in Chinese custody;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China continues to exert control over religious and cultural institutions in Tibet, abusing human rights through the torture, arbitrary arrest, and detention without fair or public trial of Tibetans who peacefully express their political or religious views or attempt to preserve the unique Tibetan identity; and
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has paroled individual political prisoners for good behavior or for medical reasons in the face of strong international pressure, but has failed to make the systemic changes necessary to provide minimum standards of due process or protections for basic civil and political rights: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) the Government of the People's Republic of China is in violation of international human rights standards by detaining and mistreating Tibetans who engage in peaceful activities to protest China's repression of Tibetans or promote the preservation of a distinct Tibetan identity;
(2) sustained international pressure on the Government of the People's Republic of China is essential to improve the human rights situation in Tibet and secure the release of Tibetan political prisoners;
(3) the Government of the United States should--
(A) raise the cases of Tenzin Delek and other political prisoners at every opportunity with officials from the People's Republic of China; and
(B) work with other governments concerned about human rights in China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas, to encourage the release of political prisoners and promote systemic improvement of human rights in China; and
(4) the Government of the People's Republic of China should, as a gesture of goodwill and in order to promote human rights, immediately release all political prisoners, including Tenzin Delek.