Exiles condemn China’s decision of death for Tibetan

DHARAMSALA - The Tibetans living in exile here Friday condemned the Chinese government’s decision of death sentence to one Tibetan and long prison terms to five others, an official statement said.

“The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is deeply concerned that the Chinese government has once again handed down a death sentence to one Tibetan and lengthy prison terms to five other Tibetans,” Tibetan minister for information and international relations Y. Takla said in the statement.

“We strongly condemn the harsh sentences arbitrarily meted out without truly conducting an open and fair trial. The recent verdict is against the spirit of China’s first national human rights action plan (2009-2010) which stipulates that every precaution shall be taken in meting out a death sentence and judicial procedures for death sentences will be stringently implemented.”

The six men have been convicted for participating in “riots” in China in 2008.

“The CTA once again appeals to the Chinese government and the international community, especially the UN Human Rights Council, to give due consideration on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet,” said Takla.

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. Over 150,000 Tibetans live outside Tibet, most of them in India. His government-in-exile, which is not recognised by any country, is also based here.