This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/22/world/asia/chinese-police-are-said-to-seize-ashes-of-tibetan-monk-tenzin-delek-rinpoche.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Chinese Police Are Said to Seize Ashes of Tibetan Monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche Chinese Police Are Said to Seize Ashes of Tibetan Monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
(about 11 hours later)
BEIJING — The Chinese police forcibly seized the ashes of a prominent Tibetan monk whose death in prison this month set off public demonstrations and raised suspicions about his treatment while incarcerated, supporters of the monk said on Tuesday. BEIJING — The Chinese police forcibly seized the ashes of a prominent Tibetan monk whose death in prison this month set off public demonstrations and raised suspicions about his treatment while incarcerated, supporters of the monk said on Tuesday.
Geshe Nyima, a cousin of the revered religious figure and community leader, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, 65, said that four Tibetans transporting his cremated remains to his hometown, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, for Buddhist funeral rites were held at gunpoint by Chinese police officers last Thursday night in the town of Luding and forced to hand them over.Geshe Nyima, a cousin of the revered religious figure and community leader, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, 65, said that four Tibetans transporting his cremated remains to his hometown, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, for Buddhist funeral rites were held at gunpoint by Chinese police officers last Thursday night in the town of Luding and forced to hand them over.
“The ashes were taken back and not given to the family,” said Geshe Nyima, speaking in a conference call from Dharamsala, India, where he lives in exile. “Police said that they would throw the ashes into the nearby river. The four people don’t know what happened to the ashes.” “The ashes were taken back and not given to the family,” said Geshe Nyima, speaking in a conference call from Dharamsala, India, where he lives in exile.
Tenzin Delek died in a prison near Chengdu, Sichuan’s capital, during the 13th year of a life sentence on a bombing charge that human rights advocates contend was politically motivated. Relatives were informed on July 12 that he was dead, but no cause was given until Chinese state news reports announced days later that he had died of cardiac arrest after refusing medical care for his declining health. Family members dispute that claim. “Police said that they would throw the ashes into the nearby river. The four people don’t know what happened to the ashes.”
Tenzin Delek died in a prison near Chengdu, Sichuan’s capital, during the 13th year of a life sentence on a bombing charge that human rights advocates contend was politically motivated.
Relatives were informed on July 12 that he was dead, but no cause was given until Chinese state news reports announced days later that he had died of cardiac arrest after refusing medical care for his declining health. Family members dispute that claim.
“My family believes Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was murdered,” Geshe Nyima said during the call, which was organized by the advocacy group Students for a Free Tibet, based in New York. “There is nothing natural about an innocent man dying in prison after 13 years of torture.”“My family believes Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was murdered,” Geshe Nyima said during the call, which was organized by the advocacy group Students for a Free Tibet, based in New York. “There is nothing natural about an innocent man dying in prison after 13 years of torture.”
The Chinese authorities cremated Tenzin Delek’s body on Thursday against the wishes of the family, who wanted to perform last rites over the body in his hometown, Litang. About 30 people, including members of his immediate family, students and monks, were permitted to see the body and recite a short prayer. But they were not allowed to hold on to any of his belongings, said the advocacy group, which was joined by Tibetans and the organization Human Rights Watch in calling for an independent investigation of his death.The Chinese authorities cremated Tenzin Delek’s body on Thursday against the wishes of the family, who wanted to perform last rites over the body in his hometown, Litang. About 30 people, including members of his immediate family, students and monks, were permitted to see the body and recite a short prayer. But they were not allowed to hold on to any of his belongings, said the advocacy group, which was joined by Tibetans and the organization Human Rights Watch in calling for an independent investigation of his death.
On Friday, Tenzin Delek’s sister and niece were taken away from a restaurant in Chengdu by police officers from Litang and have not been heard from since, Geshe Nyima said. Before her disappearance, the sister, Dolkar Lhamo, 52, had participated in a sit-in in Chengdu along with nearly 100 other Tibetans seeking the return of her brother’s body. Afterward, she presented prison officials with a petition demanding an inquiry into his death. The document was obtained by Tibetan exile groups and posted online.On Friday, Tenzin Delek’s sister and niece were taken away from a restaurant in Chengdu by police officers from Litang and have not been heard from since, Geshe Nyima said. Before her disappearance, the sister, Dolkar Lhamo, 52, had participated in a sit-in in Chengdu along with nearly 100 other Tibetans seeking the return of her brother’s body. Afterward, she presented prison officials with a petition demanding an inquiry into his death. The document was obtained by Tibetan exile groups and posted online.
More than 20 people were hospitalized after riot police officers tried to quell a demonstration on July 13 in western Sichuan, where over a thousand people had gathered to demand an investigation of the monk’s death, Tibetan exile groups said.More than 20 people were hospitalized after riot police officers tried to quell a demonstration on July 13 in western Sichuan, where over a thousand people had gathered to demand an investigation of the monk’s death, Tibetan exile groups said.
Eager to prevent ethnic unrest, the Chinese authorities routinely shut down the Internet and phone communication in Tibetan areas while enforcing draconian security measures that include surveillance of Buddhist monasteries, forced disappearances and secret trials based on confessions extracted through coercion, according to human rights organizations.Eager to prevent ethnic unrest, the Chinese authorities routinely shut down the Internet and phone communication in Tibetan areas while enforcing draconian security measures that include surveillance of Buddhist monasteries, forced disappearances and secret trials based on confessions extracted through coercion, according to human rights organizations.
Geshe Nyima said that Tenzin Delek’s hometown and monastery had been surrounded by police officers. “People cannot gather and pray,” he said. “It’s like a military zone all over.”Geshe Nyima said that Tenzin Delek’s hometown and monastery had been surrounded by police officers. “People cannot gather and pray,” he said. “It’s like a military zone all over.”
Reached by phone on Tuesday, two men who identified themselves as officers with the Luding Public Security Bureau hung up when asked about the seizure of Tenzin Delek’s ashes.Reached by phone on Tuesday, two men who identified themselves as officers with the Luding Public Security Bureau hung up when asked about the seizure of Tenzin Delek’s ashes.