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China: Prisoners

Volume 503: debated on Wednesday 6 January 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to secure the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche from the Chinese authorities. (307045)

We are aware of Tenzin’s case and are concerned for his well-being. I raised this case most recently during my visit to China in September 2009 where we included Tenzin’s name as part of an individual case list, which was handed over during the visit.

The Chinese responded at the end of my visit that:

“on 23 January 2003, Sichuan Provincial High People’s Court reviewed and approved Tenzin’s death sentence with a two-year suspension of execution and life deprivation of political rights for the crimes of bombing and instigating secession. On 26 January 2005, Sichuan Provincial High People’s Court decided to commune his punishment to life imprisonment and life deprivation of political rights. He is now jailed in the Chuandong Prison of Sichuan Province”.

We will continue to raise this case at every appropriate opportunity.