The tent accommodating the ‘Two Months Chain Hunger Strike’ transformed into a vivid altar, with the offerings of lamps and candles on the night of ‘Gaden Ngamchoe’, illuminating the portrait of Tulku Tenzin Delek, as the chilly evening settled to prayers for the life of an innocent lama on the occasion of the birth anniversary of one of Tibet’s greatest scholars, Je Tsonkhapa Lobsang Drakpa.
The fifth leg of the ‘All India Relay Hunger Strike’ being organized by TYC under the banner of ‘Release Tulku Tenzin Delek Now’ campaign entered its second week of protest, with the vigil being passed on by the Mcleod Shop Keepers Association to the nuns of the Gaden Choeling Monastery.
More than a couple of thousand post cards have been sent to the UN General Secretary till date along with petitions endorsed by innumerable signatures, urging the world bodies to press China for the release of Tulku Tenzin Delek. Sitting for 24 hours on hunger strike, an elderly foreigner dismissed the charges put up against Tulku, saying that no Buddhist lama can even think of causing hurt to sentient beings. As he stood up to leave in the morning, he promised to come back and join the struggle until the release of the innocent lama.
A documentary on Tulku Tenzin Delek, featuring interviews of Tulku Tenzin Delek’s disciples and activities organized by various organizations throughout the world for the release of Tulku Tenzin Delek, was screened at the spot of the ongoing hunger strike. The screening was made possible with the help of Tsering Ngodup, one of the co-directors of the documentary along with Elinoir Burke.
The global campaign by Tibetans the world over continue to yield result with the US Senate passing a resolution by unanimous consent calling for the release of Tulku Tenzin Delek and other Tibetan political prisoners. Senate Resolution 483 stated 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…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.”
Although the flickering lights eliminated the darkness of vision, the confining darkness and eerie silence surrounding the case of Tulku Tenzin Delek, came as a stark reminder that just lighting lamps with hopes and prayers were not sufficient articulation of activism for the immediate and unconditional release of Tulku Tenzin Delek.
Much more needs to be done and achieved.
