Dharamsala, Jan 27 : Exiled Tibetans have launched a signature campaign in Dharamsala to press their demand for release of revered monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who was fighting for the cause of Tibet's independence from China.

The campaigners said, President of International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge, had assured them that the human rights scenario in Tibet would improve once China gets the host-ship of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

They said that they have launched the campaign to remind Rogge of his promise and demand the release of Rinpoche.

"This is for the release of Rinpoche who was arrested in 2002 right after China was awarded the host-ship of Olympics," said Tenzin Choedon, a campaigner

" We are asking IOC president Jacques Rogge to see into the human rights violation in Tibet and act according to promise he made in 2002," Choedon added.

Due to international pressure, the Chinese authorities that had earlier awarded capital punishment to Rinpoche awarded a life sentence to him in 2005.

Tibet became an "autonomous region" of the People's Republic of China in 1965. India has officially recognised it as part of China in 2003.

ANI