Photo: tibet.net
Tibetan delegates Nyima Lhamo, niece of late Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and KaldenTsomo, Department of Information and International Relations of Tibetan Government-in-Exilebased in India attended the 9th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy’s session on The Fight for Freedom and Democracy in Geneva.
She addressed the Geneva summit on Human Rights and Democracy session on February 21 as one of the “human rights heroes”. She stressed the pressing human rights situation inside Tibet and narrated the story of her uncle Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death in a Chinese prison under suspicious circumstances. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was a highly respected Lama in Tibet, well known for philanthropy and for promoting social and environmental causes. Nyima urged the international diplomats to help improve the deteriorating human rights situation inside Tibet by engaging with China to address the issues.
Twenty six year old Nyima escaped Tibet last year in order to campaign on behalf of her late uncle. This despite threats from the Chinese authorities against the family she had left behind – her six year old daughter and elderly mother – if she continued her campaign. She said that her uncle’s only crimes were his faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his leadership in the community and his work as a social and environmental advocate.
Nyima Lhamo and other Tibetan representatives with Mr. Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch
Photo: tibet.net
Speaking about how her uncle was subjected to torture in prison she said, “My uncle recounted his experience of torture in prison and told my mother that the prison authorities subjected him to severe torture and consequently made him unconscious. The prison authorities repeatedly beat him up and ridiculed his title of ‘spiritual leader’ and asked him to display his spiritual prowess by deflecting the beatings”.
Despite international and human right groups calls on China, Nyima said that her uncle was denied a fair trial or medical parole, and even after his death in the prison his family was denied the right to perform the traditional Buddhist rites.
Nyima concluded her address with these words: “I stand here today, with the hope that the international community who stands for human rights, freedom and justice will thoroughly investigate and press China to come clean on the circumstances that led to the death of my uncle in prison.
“No country, including China, is immune to international pressure. Therefore international pressure alone can make China accountable for its gross human rights violations in Tibet.
Photo: tibet.net
“Finally, I truly believe that a peaceful solution for Tibet advances respect for international human rights and human dignity”. The quotes are as reported by the official website of Central Tibetan Administration also known as Tibetan Government-in-Exile, Tibet.net.
The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy is sponsored by a coalition of 25 human rights non-government organisations from around the world and is held this year a week before the UN Human Rights Council opens its 2017 session.
To read our detailed coverage on Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche: https://contactmagazine.net/articles/the-world-mourns-tenzin-delek-rinpoche/
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