After waiting almost a year following protests by both local Tibetans and the international community calling for the release of the well-known Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, his sisters were allowed to meet with him after being informed of the location by the government just 2 days before the meeting was to take place. Both the head of the prison and the prison’s doctor told Sonam Dekyi and Dolkar that their brother was suffering from bone, heart and blood pressure problems, in addition to a fall that was most likely brought about by his illnesses. The sisters informed Tenzin Delek Rinpoche that they would continue to write letters to the government on his behalf, adding to the 26 he himself had already sent.

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche has been protesting his detention since he was arrested in connection with several bombings in southwestern China. Despite being sentenced to death in December 2002 for the crime, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche  was given a two-year reprieve and later had his sentence commuted to life in prison on January 26, 2005. His relative Lobsang Dhondup, who was charged at the same time, was executed almost immediately following the sentence. The ability of his sisters to visit him is thought to be in direct correlation with the promises made by the Chinese government in light of dozens of Tibetan youths staging protests in Lithang in early December 2009 to appeal for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's release, leading to dozens of detentions and clashes with police. In addition to this, Human Rights Watch is continuing to push for his release immediately pending a new trial conforming to international standards of justice.