Tibetan monk dies of heart disease in Sichuan

CHENGDU - A'an Zhaxi, also known as Tenzin Delek, died of sudden cardiac death in a county hospital in Southwest China's Sichuan province on July 12, local authorities said.

A'an Zhaxi, born in Litang County of Garze in Sichuan in 1950, was given death penalty with a two-year reprieve in January 2003 for masterminding five terrorist bombings in the province that killed one and injured a dozen others from 2000 to 2002.

His sentence was commuted to a life term in January 2005. A'an Zhaxi had been serving his term in the Chuandong Prison in Dazhu county, Dazhou city, until July 12, when he died in the Dazhu County People's Hospital despite treatment.

At about half past noon on July 12, the monk began to take his usual nap. At 2:35 pm, a prison guard found him suffering respiratory failure and reported his condition immediately. Prison doctors reached him at 2:39 pm for emergency treatment. At 2:57 pm, doctors of the hospital's emergency center came to rescue and sent him for further treatment in the hospital's ICU at 3:07 pm.

A'an Zhaxi's death was declared at 4:05 pm after all emergency treatment failed.

The country's criminal law stipulates that prisoners serving life sentences are not allowed medical parole.

According to the prison, the monk's right to health care has been guaranteed since his imprisonment. In addition to the active treatment provided by the prison hospital, A'an Zhaxi had been transferred to the Dazhu County People's Hospital for inspection and treatment 14 times, and to the Dazhou City's Central Hospital once.

Additionally, medical experts from various hospitals gathered 10 times to scrutinize his disease and choose the best possible treatment. In the process, A'an Zhaxi, for many times, either refused to see doctors or take medicine, fluctuating his symptoms.

On July 15, the Dazhou City Procuratorate came to a conclusion on A'an Zhaxi's death following an investigation. The prison reported his death to his relatives the same day.