Chadrel Rinpoche, 58, former abbot of Tashilhunpo monastery and head of the official search team for the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, is being held at Chuandong No.3 Prison in Dazu County, Sichuan. This is the first news of his whereabouts since he was sentenced on April 21, 1997 to six years' imprisonment and three years' subsequent deprivation of political rights for "conspiring to split the country" and "leaking state secrets."
Dazu County, a mountainous district over 180 kilometers from Chongqing and accessible only by bus, has traditionally served as a black hole for disposing of highly sensitive political cases. Mao Zedong kept Hu Feng imprisoned at Chuandong No.3 Prison for over twenty years in complete secrecy. Chadrel Rinpoche is believed to be locked in the same cell. Inmates refer to the compound which houses the "strict observation brigade" as "the prison within the prison": here, cut off from the rest of the facility by lines of tall electric fencing, recalcitrant prisoners are punished with round-the-clock observation and severe controls on their actions. But behind this section is still another, smaller, compound which even top prison officials are forbidden to enter. Reportedly, Chadrel Rinpoche was brought to this top-secret compound sometime in late April or early May, shortly after his sentencing.
Only three other people are allowed inside: two commissars who report directly to the Ministry of Justice in Beijing, and a prisoner who acts as cook and guard for Chadrel Rinpoche and is never permitted to leave. Not even the warden may ask any questions about the prisoner within, who is always called by a fake name. Chadrel Rinpoche has been denied all outside contact since his arrival at Chuandong No. 3 Prison and is not allowed to leave his cell to take exercise. In protest of the denial of even his most basic rights under labor camp regulations, he reportedly commenced a hunger strike sometime in July. It is not known whether he is eating now, but sources have reported that his health is very poor.
Human Rights in China calls on the Chinese government to unconditionally release Chadrel Rinpoche and provide him with immediate medical care.
Please send faxes, express and airmail letters in English, Chinese or your own language urging the prompt and unconditional release of Chadrel Rinpoche as a prisoner of conscience; expressing grave concern about the secrecy of his incarceration; urging that he receive all necessary medical care in accordance with provisions set out in the United Nations Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners.
Send your appeal letters to:
Prison Chief Jianyu zhang
Chuandong Di Er Jianyu
Dazu shi
Sichuan sheng
People's Republic of China
Acting Governor of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government Sichuan Sheng Renmin Zhengfu
Chengdu
Sichuan sheng
People's Republic of China
The Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China Sifabu Laodong Jiaoyang Gongzuo Guanliju
14 Dongchang'anlu
Dongchengqu
Beijing 100741
People's Republic of China
Minister of Public Health of the People's Republic of China CHEN Minzhang Buzhang
Weishengbu
44 Houhai Beiyan, Gulou Xidajie
Beijing
People's Republic of China