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ICLT Action Alert for Chadrel Rinpoche
Chadrel Rinpoche Held in Secret Compound in China
New York-based Human Rights in China (HRC) reported in the fall of 1997 that Chadrel Rinpoche, 58, former abbot of Tashilhunpo monastery, is being held in solitary confinement at Chuandong No.3 Prison in Dazu County, Sichuan. This is the first news of his whereabouts since he was sentenced in April 1997 to six years' imprisonment and three years' subsequent deprivation of political rights for conspiring to split China and for leaking state secrets after he notified the Dalai Lama of the progress of his team in their search for the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. He is the highest-ranking monk to be jailed for violating "national security" laws.
Dazu County, a mountainous district over 111 miles (180 kilometers) from Chongqing, has traditionally served as a black hole for disposing of highly sensitive political cases. Chadrel Rinpoche was reportedly brought to this top-secret compound sometime in late April or early May 1997.
Chadrel Rinpoche has been denied all outside contact since his arrival at Chuandong No. 3 Prison and is not allowed to leave his cell to take exercise. In protest of the denial of even his most basic rights under labor camp regulations, he reportedly began a hunger strike sometime in July 1997. It is not known whether he is eating now, but sources have reported that his health is very poor.
The Tibet Bureau has appealed to the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance to issue an Urgent Appeal to the Chinese authorities.
What You Can Do
Send your appeals for an Urgent Appeal to be issued by email to: the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva at: [email protected]
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