PARIS, France: The Tibet Group in the French senate issued a declaration of support for Tibetan language rights advocate Tashi Wangchuk who continues to remain imprisoned despite a trial that ended without a verdict on 4 January 2018. The declaration was released on 23 January to coincide with the visit of CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay to Paris.
“We call for a fair, equitable and transparent trial! Tashi Wangchuk must be able to benefit from the assistance of a lawyer of his choice and regular access to his family,” French Senator Michel Raison, President of Tibet Group wrote in its declaration of support.
The declaration of support which is in French was signed by 14 French senators who reaffirmed their support for the Tibet issue and urged the Chinese government to allow a free and fair trial for Tashi Wangchuk. The fourteen senators are Michel Raison (President), Annick Billon (Vice-President), Patricia Morhiet-Richaud (Vice-President), André Gattolin (Vice-President), Laurence Haribey (Vice-Presisdent), Pascale Gruny (Secretary), Michel Amiel, Bernard Fournier, Jean-François Longeot, Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio, Alain Houpert, Elisabeth Lamure, Bernard Jomier, and Maurice Antiste.
French Senate Tibet Group, officially known as the International Group for Information on Tibet, has 22 members representing almost all the political parties. It was created in 1988.