Kashag appeals for fair trials to save lives of Tibetan detainees

Wednesday, 9 April 2008, 5:50 p.m.

Dharamshala:The Kashag of the
Central Tibetan Administration on Wednesday, 9 April, has appealed to
the international legal bodies and governments to help save the lives
of those arrested Tibetans and ensure proper legal trials.

According to press report of 2 April, Mr Zhang Qingli, Party
Secretary of TAR, is quoted to have stated that all those involved in
the recent “riots” in Tibet will be tried and sentenced with strictest
measures by the end of April.

According to information available, Mr Zhang Qingli at a
meeting attended by distric level and above communist party cadres,
including government officials, declared that the authority is to adopt
four quick procedures which include quick order, quick arrest and quick
trial. With these orders in place it is very obvious that the
authorities in Tibet intend to exercise quick summary trial without
proper legal procedures and carry out executions. In fact out of over
100 monks from Ramoche, 70 monks have already been arrested on 7 April.

The Kashag expressed concern over the strict restrictions on
movements and food supplies in tibetan monasteries which has already
cause a death in Lhasa due to desperation from hunger. The Kashag,
therefore appeals for help to ensure that those confined in the
monasteries where shortage of food is causing great sufferings and may
cause death due to hunger are supplied with timely provision of food
and other required needs.