E/CN.4/2003/66 page 7 19. On the night of 7 April 2002, the police allegedly picked up Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a well-known spiritual master, together with four of his followers, Tsultrim Dhargye, Tamdin Tsering, Asher Dhargye, and Thondup, from Rinpoche’s monastery in Nyachu county, Karze Prefecture (Sichuan Province). 20. By letter dated 14 November 2002, the Government replied, inter alia, that, on 20 August 2002, the procuratorial authorities had instituted criminal proceedings against Tenzin Delek Rinpoche with the Intermediate People’s Court of the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture for the crimes of fomenting separatism and causing an explosion and against defendant Phondup for the crimes of fomenting separatism, causing an explosion and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. These proceedings are under way. In May 2002, Tamdin Tsering, Asher Dhargye and Tsultrim Dhargye were condemned to one year’s re-education through labour for their involvement in the same criminal case. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, Tamdin Tsering and the others were detained for questioning and received penalties strictly because they had violated, or were suspected of having violated, the law and these measures were in no way connected with their religion or beliefs. 21. Several Buddhist institutes were allegedly destroyed in 2001 by order of the authorities, notably the one in Yachen, Payul, and the Serthar Buddhist Institute, which was attended by 10,000 students and where demolition, including demolition of 2,000 dwellings housing monks and nuns, allegedly started on 26 June 2001. Reportedly, more than 8,000 students were forcibly evicted. Only 1,000 monks and 400 nuns are said to have been allowed to stay. The Institute’s founder, Jigme Phuntsok, was reportedly taken away by the authorities and placed under house arrest in Chengdu. 22. In the past seven years, 19,000 monks and nuns are said to have been evicted from religious institutions and 24 such institutions have reportedly been closed. Moreover, of the 251 Tibetans still in prison, the majority are reportedly monks or nuns. 23. The Chinese authorities replied that there are problems with buildings that contravene the regulations and that the establishments lack essential fire protection, hygiene and medical facilities and pose a serious hazard to the health and safety of the many monks and nuns. The Government has provided extensive support for reorganizing and refurbishing the Institute. No pressure was placed on any monk or nun to return to secular life nor was any monk or nun placed in detention. On the contrary, the State contributed a considerable amount of money to assist with the resettlement of those monks and nuns who wished to return to their villages and with the reconstruction of the Institute’s buildings. In recent years, management of the Yachen monastery, a centre for propagating the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism, has deteriorated and it has become seriously overcrowded; the buildings lack any planning and the problem of unauthorized building has emerged; the surrounding area is dirty and untidy; and there are serious violations of relevant State laws and regulations, entailing serious threats to safety and health and endangering the lives of the monks, nuns and local people. In May 2001, the management committee of the Yachen monastery decided to reorganize and refurbish the monastery, putting in place regulations for its buildings and carrying out extensive repairs and renovations. With regard to Jigme Phuntsok, the local government has made arrangements for his medical treatment and his health condition is now greatly improved.