Amnesty International Urges China to Overturn Death Sentences for TibetansFriday, 10 April 2009, 9:20 a.m.
Dharamshala:
Amnesty International has condemned a decision by a court in Lhasa to
hand down death sentences to two Tibetans, Losang Gyaltse and Loyar,
accused of starting fatal fires in Lhasa during protests in March
2008. Two other people were given death sentences with a two-year
reprieve and one person has been sentenced to life imprisonment.It
is unclear if they will appeal on their sentences but ultimately,
China’s Supreme People’s Court will have to review today’s death
sentences, as it does in all death penalty cases.Sam Zarifi,
Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Director, said: ‘Amnesty
International condemns the death sentences handed down to Losang
Gyaltse and Loyar. We have recorded a pattern of unfair trials leading
to death sentences in China. Under these conditions it’s very unlikely
that these sentences stand up. We urge the death sentences to be
overturned.’According to a court spokesperson two other
Tibetans, Tenzin Phuntsog and Kangtsuk received death sentences with a
two year reprieve admitted. Torture remains widespread in
China where courts fail to exclude evidence extracted through torture.
This heightens concerns over Tenzin Phuntsog’s confessions and over his
treatment, Zarifi said.More than 1,000 people detained in
connection with the protests in March 2008 remain unaccounted for
according to the United States Commission on China.According to
Amnesty International research China carried out at least 1,718
executions in 2008 and sentenced 7,003 people to death. The government
of China continues to restrict access to Tibet raising fears that human
rights abuses are under reported.Related reports:CTA Concerned About Death Sentence to Two TibetansHuman Rights Group Condemns Death Sentence to Two TibetansChina’s Brutality in Tibet ExposedFACT SHEET: Tibetan Deaths Under China’s Crackdown since March 2008
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