China Jails Senior Tibetan Monk For 5 Years In Prison

Adri Rinpoche is the chief spiritual preceptor and the head of the Vongon Monastery, Dzachukha, Eastern Tibet and is highly respected. He was arrested March 15, 2008, just 5 days after more than 8 monks from his monastery held a demonstration (10 March 2008) against Chinese military occupation and suppression in Tibet.

15march20106Chinese officials refused the requests for release of Rinpoche by his Chinese Buddhist followers after Chinese court denied their several appeals regarding Rinpoche's bad health. The Chinese authorities also accused him and his son of involvement in the protests lead by monks from the Vonpo monastery.

A Chinese court in Lhasa, Tibet, the so called Intermediate People's Court (late February 2010) has sentenced Adri Rinpoche to five years in prison. And Rinpoche's son, Dasher has received 10 years in prison on charges of separatism for sending Tibet information and photos abroad. They are currently detained in Chinese jail in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.