After pressure from Tibetans and supporters in the US, a resolution was passed unanimously in the US Senate on December 7, calling for the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.

Full Text of US Senate Resolution 483 on Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

The resolution was passed with unanimous consent December 7th 2004 by the US
Senate.

108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
S. RES. XXXXX

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the detention of Tibetan
political prisoners by the Government of the People's Republic of China.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. BINGAMAN) submitted the following
resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the detention of Tibetan
political prisoners by the Government of the People's Republic of China.

Whereas, for more than 1,000 years, Tibet has maintained a sovereign
national identity that is distinct from the national identity of China;

Whereas armed forces of the People's Republic of China invaded Tibet in
1950, according to the memoirs of the Dalai Lama and other sources;

Whereas, according to the Department of State and international human rights
organizations, the Government of the People's Republic of China continues to
commit widespread and well-documented human rights abuses in Tibet;

Whereas the People's Republic of China has yet to demonstrate its
willingness to abide by internationally accepted standards of freedom of
belief, expression, and association by repealing or amending laws and
decrees that restrict those freedoms;

Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has detained
hundreds of Tibetan nuns, monks, and lay persons as political prisoners for
speaking out against China's occupation of Tibet and for their efforts to
preserve Tibet's distinct national identity;

Whereas Phuntsog Nyidron was arrested on October 14, 1989, together with 5
other nuns, for participating in a peaceful protest against China's
occupation of Tibet;

Whereas, on February 26, 2004, following a sustained international campaign
on her behalf, the Government of the People's Republic of China released
Phuntsog Nyidron from detention after she served more than 14 years of her
16-year sentence;

Whereas Tenzin Delek, a prominent Tibetan religious leader, and 3 other
monks were arrested on April 7, 2002, during a nighttime raid on Jamyang
Choekhorling monastery in Nyagchu County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture;

Whereas, following a closed trial and more than 8 months of incommunicado
detention, Tenzin Delek and another Tibetan, Lobsang Dhondup, were convicted
of inciting separatism and for their alleged involvement in a series of
bombings on December 2, 2002;

Whereas Lobsang Dhondup was sentenced to death and Tenzin Delek was
sentenced to death with a 2-year suspension;

Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China told senior
officials of the United States and other governments that the cases of
Lobsang Dhondup and Tenzin Delek would be subjected to a ''lengthy review''
by the Supreme People's Court prior to the death sentences being carried
out;

Whereas the Supreme People's Court never carried out this review, and
Lobsang Dhondup was executed on January 26, 2003;

Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has failed to
produce any evidence that either Lobsang Dhondup or Tenzin Delek were
involved in the crimes for which they were convicted, despite repeated
requests from officials of the United States and other governments;

Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China continues to
imprison Tibetans for engaging in peaceful efforts to protest China's
repression of Tibetans and preserve the Tibetan identity;

Whereas Tibetan political prisoners are routinely subjected to beatings,
electric shock, solitary confinement, and other forms of torture and
inhumane treatment while in Chinese custody;

Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China continues to exert
control over religious and cultural institutions in Tibet, abusing human
rights through the torture, arbitrary arrest, and detention without fair or
public trial of Tibetans who peacefully express their political or religious
views or attempt to preserve the unique Tibetan identity; and

Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has paroled
individual political prisoners for good behavior or for medical reasons in
the face of strong international pressure, but has failed to make the
systemic changes necessary to provide minimum standards of due process or
protections for basic civil and political rights:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that-
the Government of the People's Republic of China is in violation of
international human rights standards by detaining and mistreating Tibetans
who engage in peaceful activities to protest China's repression of Tibetans
or promote the preservation of a distinct Tibetan identity;

sustained international pressure on the Government of the People's Republic
of China is essential to improve the human rights situation in Tibet and
secure the release of Tibetan political prisoners;

the Government of the United States should-

raise the cases of Tenzin Delek and other political prisoners at every
opportunity with officials from the People's Republic of China; and

work with other governments concerned about human rights in China, including
the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas, to encourage the
release of political prisoners and promote systemic improvement of human
rights in China; and

the Government of the People's Republic of China should, as a gesture of
goodwill and in order to promote human rights, immediately release all
political prisoners, including Tenzin Delek.