BEIJING • A Tibetan monk who was
widely known as one of China's most prominent political prisoners has died in
jail.
The United States, the European Union
and international rights groups had called for the release of Tenzin Delek
Rinpoche, 65, who was serving a 20-year sentence on charges of "crimes of
terror and incitement of separatism".
He died on Sunday in Chuandong prison
in the south-western city of Chengdu, his cousin Geshe Nyima said from India.
The Tibetan government-in-exile, the
Central Tibetan Administration, also confirmed his death.
"The fact that he was not even
allowed medical parole and the last wish of followers to see him reflects the
continuing hardline policies of the Chinese government," said Mr Lobsang
Sangay, who heads the India-based administration. "Such mistreatment will
only generate more resentment among Tibetans."
The US State Department said it was
saddened to learn that Tenzin Delek had died. "We hope Chinese authorities
will investigate and make public the circumstances surrounding his death,"
it said.
The Free Tibet rights group said
security forces had been deployed in Tenzin Delek's home county in China's
Sichuan province, where thousands of Tibetans had gathered outside a government
office near his monastery. The cause of Tenzin Delek's death was not clear, his
cousin said, but rights groups said he had been suffering from a heart
condition.
Tenzin Delek was sentenced to death
with a two-year reprieve in 2002, according to Students for a Free Tibet, a
rights group that campaigned for his release.
The sentence was later commuted to
life imprisonment and reduced to a term of 20 years.
Tenzin Delek was also a supporter of the Dalai Lama,
Tibet's spiritual leader.
Source: Straits Time
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