(Cases recently highlighted in Urgent Campaigns and the 'Stop the Torture in Tibet' Campaign)

1. Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche - Concern expressed by UN.
Rinpoche remains imprisoned for life, after his two-year suspended death sentence was commuted in January. Four UN Special Rapporteurs (on Freedom of Religion or Belief; on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers; on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions; and on Torture) sent a joint urgent appeal to the Chinese Government on Rinpoche's case. In a report to the UN Commission on Human Rights, published in April by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, the Chinese authorities were denounced for failing to uphold the international standards of fair trials in Rinpoche's case. The failings included"serious procedural flaws during the closed trial; violation of the right to choose his own lawyer; denial of the right to know and have opportunity to examine the evidence presented against him in court". The report also expressed concern for Rinpoche's mental and physical integrity in light of his incommunicado detention and reports of his torture.

2. Rigzin Wangyal - Report of death. 
In February 2005 information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) indicated that Rigzin Wangyal died in prison at the end of 2004. However, this has yet to be confirmed by the Chinese authorities. TCHRD's report also stated that Wangyal's body had not been handed over to his family. Wangyal (57) was accused of involvement in an underground political movement and was serving a 20 year sentence. His health condition was known to have gravely deteriorated due to constant torture during his years in prison.

3. Anu - Released.
Anu was released in March after completing a four year sentence. Now 52, Anu was arrested during a 'Strike Hard' crackdown in Lhasa in March 2001. Although the exact charges against her were unclear, she was believed to have been detained for possession of 'separatist' materials. Anu was allegedly one of only two political prisoners in Drapchi Prison placed in a cell otherwise occupied by 'ordinary' criminal prisoners. Anu is an amputee, having lost a leg in her childhood after being run over by a Chinese military truck. (TIN)

4. Jamphel Jangchub - Released.
Jamphel Jangchub, one of the 'Group of Ten' Drepung monks, was released in April. Jangchub had received a three year reduction in 1994 for good behaviour, reducing his sentence to 16 years. Ngawang Phulchung, the last member of the 'Group of Ten' still in detention, is serving 19 years and is due for release in April 2008. The 'Group of Ten' were arrested in 1989 for "seriously undermining national security" by printing copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a leaflet promoting a democratic, free Tibet.

There is no news on the case of Bangri Rinpoche and his partner Nyima Choedron who are imprisoned in Drapchi. There have been unconfirmed reports that Chogdrub Drolma and Jangchub Drolma, two nuns imprisoned in Drapchi, may have been released early and sent back to their home villages. However, until these reports are confirmed we urge you to continue writing on their behalf as well as on behalf of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, Ngawang Phulchung, Bangri Rinpoche and Nyima Choedron. Click here for current case sheets.

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2. By post: Send your name and postal address totorture@freetibet.org, call 020 7324 4605 or write to Free Tibet Campaign, 28 Charles Square, London N1 6HT, UK. 3. Via the website: Download the materials here

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