[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 65 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 65
Urging the President to seek an independent investigation into the
death of Tibetan Buddhist leader and social activist Tenzin Delek
Rinpoche and to publicly call for an end to the repressive policies
used by the People's Republic of China in Tibet.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 27, 2017
Mr. Capuano submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
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RESOLUTION
Urging the President to seek an independent investigation into the
death of Tibetan Buddhist leader and social activist Tenzin Delek
Rinpoche and to publicly call for an end to the repressive policies
used by the People's Republic of China in Tibet.
Whereas, on July 12, 2015, revered Tibetan spiritual leader and social activist
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche died in Chuandong Prison in Sichuan Province
during the 13th year of his life sentence as a prisoner of conscience;
Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was a spiritual leader, educator,
environmentalist, and women's rights advocate renowned throughout Tibet
for championing the economic, social, cultural, spiritual, and
environmental aspirations of Tibetans in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture, a traditional Tibetan area located in Sichuan Province;
Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was recognized as a reincarnated lama by His
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and played a leading role in restoring
Tibetan Buddhist life in Tibet and rebuilding sacred monasteries
destroyed during the Cultural Revolution;
Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche founded schools for orphans and economically
disadvantaged children, a nunnery for the education of Tibetan women,
and old age homes and clinics;
Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was revered for helping local communities
peacefully resolve conflicts and advocated for the rights of Tibetans at
the regional and national level of the People's Republic of China;
Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche successfully led campaigns against mining and
logging practices that contribute to pollution, flooding, and soil
erosion and opposed indiscriminate hunting that threatens biodiversity;
Whereas Chinese authorities regarded Tenzin Delek Rinpoche as a threat to the
Chinese occupation of Tibet because of Rinpoche's influence in his
community and his efforts to preserve Tibetan identity, religion, and
language;
Whereas Chinese authorities targeted Tenzin Delek Rinpoche with increasing
harassment and intimidation over the course of a decade;
Whereas after being detained and interrogated twice, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche fled
to the mountains on June 16, 2000, leaving behind a recorded statement
warning that a case against him was being fabricated and proclaiming his
innocence;
Whereas after a massive petitioning campaign by local people on behalf Tenzin
Delek Rinpoche, Rinpoche returned on December 20, 2000, and was placed
under virtual house arrest;
Whereas in April 2002, the Chinese authorities arrested Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
and his relative and former monk, Lobsang Dhondup, and charged them with
``causing explosions [and] inciting the separation of the state'';
Whereas, on December 2, 2002, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was sentenced to death with
a two-year suspension and Lobsang Dhondup was sentenced to immediate
death and was executed on January 26, 2003;
Whereas in 2003, over 40,000 Tibetans from Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's home regions
of Lithang and Nyagchu signed a petition calling for his release;
Whereas, on January 26, 2005, after intense international pressure, the death
sentence of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was commuted to a life sentence;
Whereas, on April 17, 2014, the family of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche submitted a
petition for Rinpoche's early release from prison on medical parole;
Whereas the People's Republic of China ignored repeated requests by the United
States and other governments to release Tenzin Delek Rinpoche from
prison on medical parole;
Whereas, on July 12, 2015, prison officials from the Chuandong prison informed
the family of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche that Rinpoche had died in prison;
Whereas, on July 13, 2015, local police and deployed military personnel shot
into a crowd of thousands of Tibetans in Nyagchu who were peacefully
protesting the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and calling for the
release of his body to his family so that Buddhist last rites could be
performed;
Whereas at least 24 persons were hospitalized with gunshot wounds on that
occasion;
Whereas, on July 16, 2015, prison officials cremated the body of Tenzin Delek
Rinpoche against the wishes of his family and despite protests by local
people;
Whereas, on July 17, 2015, police seized the ashes of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche from
a group of family members and disciples who were escorting the ashes
back to Lithang;
Whereas, on July 17, 2015, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's sister and her daughter were
seized by police officers in Lithang, held incommunicado for the next 14
days, and remain under virtual house arrest and heavy surveillance; and
Whereas local people from Lithang and Nyagchu, especially the monks and nuns
affiliated with Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's monasteries, were prohibited
from carrying out funeral rituals, prayers, and other day-to-day
religious ceremonies, and the area remains under heavy surveillance with
an increased military presence: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) urges the President--
(A) to seek an inquiry into the death of Tenzin
Delek Rinpoche, to be carried out by an independent
team of experts; and
(B) each time the President meets with Chinese
officials, to publicly call for an end to the
repressive policies used by the People's Republic of
China in Tibet;
(2) urges the People's Republic of China to immediately
halt suppression of the religious, cultural, social, economic,
and environmental rights of the Tibetan people in Tenzin Delek
Rinpoche's home regions of Lithang and Nyagchu and across all
areas of traditional Tibet; and
(3) affirms that violations of human rights in general, and
the persecution of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, his family, and his
supporters, specifically, are matters of legitimate concern to
all governments committed to the rule of law and to free people
worldwide.
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