VOA News 08 December 2009
Sources in China's Sichuan province say dozens have been arrested after
protests over the detention of a Buddhist monk jailed for a series of
bombings.
China has reportedly increased security in parts of Sichuan, where
protests have been taking place since December 5. The exact number of
people detained is unclear. Estimates range from 60 to more than 150.
Members of the Tibetan community living in the area have been staging
protests and hunger strikes to ask for the retrial of Tenzin Delek
Rinpoche, who is imprisoned in a monastery in the area.
Tenzin Delek was sentenced to death in 2002. His sentence was commuted
to life in prison in 2005.
Tenzin has said he was falsely accused by the Chinese government of
staging attacks because of his work with the Tibetan nomad community and
efforts to preserve Tibetan culture.
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Some information for this report was provided by AP.