Following the death sentences of two Tibetans accused of participating in a bombing campaign in southwest China, ten more Tibetans have been arrested in connection with the case. The two men sentenced in December are Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, a prominent Buddhist leader in Tibet, and Lhobsang Dhondup, one of his followers. The men were denied access to legal counsel during their sham trial, and their appeal was heard on January 10, just three weeks after it was filed, suggesting that Chinese authorities are trying to hurry the case through. The death sentence of the Rinpoche has been suspended for two years, but rights groups are campaigning for his release, citing the lack of substantial evidence against the men. It is not clear when the ten other suspects were arrested. These additional arrests raise concerns about the widening scope of the case, as well as the possibility that China withheld this information in recent human rights talks. Three out of the ten arrested have already been sentenced. The U.S. Tibet Committee reports that the Rinpoche, widely respected in Tibet for his charitable work, has been tortured while in captivity. For more information on the case and how you can act to help secure their freedom go to http://www.ustibet.org/.
