A widely revered Tibetan Lama, who passed away in a jail in southwest China where he was serving a life sentence, reportedly died after suffering cardiac arrest, according to China's state media.

Xinhua reported that 65-year-old Tezin Delek Rinpoche (also known as A'an Zhaxi) died on Sunday, July 12 after suffering a sudden heart attack. He was reportedly transported to the Dazhu County People's Hospital in Sichuan Province, but died despite medical intervention.

Like Us on Facebook

Tezin was reportedly found by a prison guard suffering from respiratory failure. Medics are reported to have rushed to the scene and provided him with basic medical care before he was transported to a hospital for treatment. Despite the speedy intervention, Tezin was declared dead about two hours after he was initially found.

China's criminal law denies all prisoners serving life sentences from medical parole. Reuters reported that nonetheless prison authorities allowed Tezin to receive medical care in prison. 

Tezin allegedly visited prison medics for inspection 14 times and officials met numerous times to deliberate on the best treatment for his condition. However, the monk refused to see medics or take prescribed medicines many times and this is believed to have exacerbated his condition.

Tezin Delek Rinpoche, a student of the exiled Dalai Lama, was found guilty of terrorism and separatism charges and sentenced to death and later to life imprisonment in 2005. But his supporters claim his charges are politically inspired. The U.S., the EU and several international groups had called for his release.

After serving 13 years in prison, news of the widely revered monk's death on Monday sparked protests that left many injured. According to the NY Times, protesters, who staged a sit-in outside the building in Chengdu where Tezin Delek Rinpoche died, questioned the conditions that led to his death.

His sister, Dolkar Lhamo, 52, and her 25-year-old daughter Nyima Lhamo were among the Tibetan protestors who were allegedly up to a hundred.

On Thursday, Tezin's family revealed that authorities had cremated his body against their wishes. This is said to violate traditional Tibetan Buddhist funeral rites. AP reported that his family also complained that they were not provided with his death certificate and medical records.

Dolkar, her daughter and other relatives were allegedly arrested on Friday at 8a.m. It is not immediately clear when they would be released or what charges they face.

Since China annexed Tibet in 1950, there have been waves of freedom movements. Following the exile of the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama from the country in 1959 after a botched uprising, there have been about 142 self-immolation protests. These self-sacrificing monks have called for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama.

But Chinese authorities have not been sympathetic to this movement. China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and has threatened foreign governments with strained relations for hosting him. Experts say the death of Tezin Delek Rinpoche is likely to fuel more Tibetan separationist protests.

TagsTezin Delek Rinpoche, A'an Zhaxi, Free Tezin Delek Rinpoche, Tezin Delek Rinpoche Death, Dalai Lama, China Tibet Conflict, China Tibet Relations, Tibetan Freedom Movement