"We condemn the sentencing of Chadrel Rinpoche, also known as Jampa Tinley, to six years of imprisonment by the Chinese authorities who have charged the Tibetan religious figure for "plotting to split the country and "leaking state secrets" relating to the discovery of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the authentic Panchen Lama," said Mr. Tempa Tsering, the Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala.
"At the same time we urge the Chinese leadership to release Chadrel Rinpoche and his two other colleagues, Jampa Chung and Samdrup. They have not committed any crime, except that of ensuring the discovery of the true Panchen Lama, ft said Mr. Tsering.
A court in Shigatse, Tibet's second largest town, slapped a six-year jail term on Chadrel Rinpoche on 21 April.
The Shigatse court ruling on Chadrel Rinpoche is farcical because he was already considered guilty by the Chinese authorities when he was detained and put under official custody in art unknown place in May 1995.
"The six-year jail term for Chadrel Rinpoche is an indication of the frustration of the Chinese leadership at Chadrel Rinpoche's stand that recognition of Panchen Lama is a religious matter and as such without the approval of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, no new Panchen Lama would be accepted by the Tibetan people," said Mr. Tsering.
The fate of Chadrel Rinpoche is inextricably tied to the fate of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the boy recognised on 14 May 1995 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the true reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama who died in 1989 in his traditional religious seat of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse.
Going against the well-established Tibetan religious norms and the wishes of the Tibetan people, China disregarded his Holiness' recognition and through force and diktat imposed a rival Panchen Lama on a shocked Tibetan public.
In fact before his detention, Chadrel Rinpoche was an important figure in the Chinese establishment in Tibet and a pivotal force in the search for the new Panchen Lama. Chadrel Rinpoche held several posts in the Chinese establishment1 including the vice-chairmanship of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region. the chairmanship of the democratic management committee of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and the head of the search party for the new Panchen Lama.
Chadrel Rinpoche's only crime was his oft-stated view that the recognition of the flew Panchen Lama must be approved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama so that the new reincarnation could be accepted by the majority of the Tibetan people. Chadrel Rinpoche said that the issue of the discovery of the new Panchen Lama is a religious issue and must be given religious sanctity which only His Holiness the Dalai Lama could provide.
The Chinese accusation that Chadrel Rinpoche leaked state secrets is also baseless. Whatever communications Chadrel Rinpoche had with His Holiness the Dalai Lama was conducted through the Chinese Buddhist Association and [us Holiness' response to Chadrel Rinpoche was relayed through Chinese embassy in New Delhi
The prison sentence imposed on Chadrel Rinpoche is yet another indication that China's much-trumpeted religious freedom is hollow. Chadrel Rinpoche's actions were guided by his conscience and by his deeply-felt religious beliefs. Imprisoning Chadrel Rinpoche for acting within the bounds of his religious beliefs shows that there is no religious freedom to speak of in Tibet.
"I once again urge the Chinese leadership to release Chadrel Rinpoche and all prisoners of conscience, including the young Panchen Lama," said Mr. Tsering.
May 8,1997
Department of Information and International Relations
Central Tibetan Administration
Dharamsala-176215, H.P. (INDIA)