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Chinese court postpones verdict for Tibetan lama

AP

In this photo taken 23 November 2005 and released 22 April 2009 by the International Campaign for Tibet, Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche is seen in Kardze, southwestern China’s Sichuan province, Wednesday, 23 November 2005. The respected Tibetan lama went on trial in a Chinese court Tuesday, 21 April 2009, on charges related to last year’s protests in Tibetan areas and faces a lengthy prison term if convicted, his lawyer said.File photo/ICT handout/Tibet

A Chinese court has postponed sentencing in the case of a Tibetan lama tried on weapons charges, one of the man’s lawyers said Tuesday.

The court in the traditionally Tibetan western region of Kardze in Sichuan province gave no reason for the delay and said the lawyers would be informed before the sentencing date, Jiang Tianyong said.

Jiang’s client, Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche, went on trial 21 April after authorities said they found a pistol, more than 100 bullets, and cartridges under a bed in his living room.

His defense team said he was framed after being forced into making a confession following a four-day police interrogation and threats to detain his wife and son. Sentencing was originally scheduled for Tuesday. The defence has linked his prosecution to rioting that broke out on 14 March 2008, leading to the most sustained Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in decades.

The 52-year-old monk could be imprisoned for up to 15 years if found guilty.

Court clerks in Kardze reached by telephone said they had no information about the case.

Last year’s March unrest soon spread to Kardzi, a deeply Buddhist region known for its strong Tibetan identity. Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche was arrested 18 May last year just days after more than 80 nuns in the area held a demonstration against an official campaign to impose “patriotic re-education” on their convents, in which they were required to denounce Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Copyright © 2009 AP

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