International Campaign for Tibet
Washington, D.C.
Contact: Bhuchung Tsering
For Immediate Release
May 7, 1997
202-785 1515
China Sentences Head of Original Panchen Lama Search Committee
Move Seen as Tightening Chinese Grip Over Tibet
Washington, D.C.: China has announced the sentencing of Chatrel Jampa
Trinley a.k.a Chatrel Rinpoche, the head of the original search committee
for the 11th Panchen Lama, to six years in prison for "colluding with
separatist forces abroad." Two other Tibetans, Jampa Chung, a monk at
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and assistant to Chatrel Rinpoche, and Samdrup, a
businessman who managed a commercial enterprise of the previous Panchen
Lama, were also sentenced to four years and two years of prison term
respectively for "disclosing state secrets." The sentences were passed by
the Intermediate People's Court of Shigatse.
"Colluding with separatist forces abroad" is an indirect reference
to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. The Dalai Lama's
announcement of a six-year-old boy Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th
Panchen Lama was followed by vehement denunciations from Beijing.
"This blatant action is a direct attack on the core religious
belief of the Tibetan people, and will further alienate the Tibetan people
from the Chinese rulers," Lodi Gyari, President of the International
Campaign for Tibet, said. "Chatrel Rinpoche only followed customary
Tibetan religious tradition in his efforts to find the true reincarnation
of the 10th Panchen Lama," Gyari added.
All three officials of the former Panchen Lama were detained in
mid- May 1995, soon after the Dalai Lama announced his recognition of the
11th Panchen Lama. While Chatrel Rinpoche and Jampa Chung were detained in
Chengdu, Samdrup was detained in the town of Dhingri. The trial which took
place in late April was not open to public because it "related to state
secrets," the court announced.
"China's sentencing of Chatrel Rinpoche is the latest indication
that the Chinese authorities have no plans to loosen their control in
Tibet, " said Gyari. In recent months, the Chinese authorities have
launched a series of repressive measures in Tibet aimed at denying
religious freedom to Tibetan people and undermining the influence of the
Dalai Lama.
The sentencing took place around the time when the Dalai Lama was
meeting President Clinton in Washington, D.C. The President had assured
the Dalai Lama that he would raise the Tibetan issue with Chinese President
Jiang Zemin during their forthcoming summit. The sentencing was announced
as the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, was beginning his first trip to
China.
On December 13, 1995, the United States Senate passed a resolution
which among others condemned China's detention of Chatrel Rinpoche for
refusing to denounce the Dalai Lama's recognition of the 11th Panchen Lama.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has scheduled a hearing on Tibet
on May 13,
1997 and the sentencing of Chatrel Rinpoche is likely to figure prominently.
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The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) was established in 1988 to
monitor and promote internationally recognized human rights and democratic
freedoms in Tibet. ICT is a non-profit organization based in Washington,
D.C.
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The International Campaign for Tibet
1825 K St. N.W, Suite 520
Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: +1 (202) 785-1515 / Fax: +1 (202) 785-4343
E-mail: ict@peacenet.org / Internet: http://www.peacenet.org/ict
Non-profit, Tibet advocacy group
"For as long as space endures,
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I, too, abide
To dispel the misery of the world."
Buddhist Prayer
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