IMPRISONMENT OF NGAWANG SANGDROL, TIBETAN NUN

Early day motion 1030, tabled 19 March 2002 by Annabelle Ewing (Scottish National Party). Signed by 107 members.

That this House expresses its concern over the case of Ngawang Sangdrol, a Buddhist nun from Tibet, who was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in 1992 for taking part in a peaceful demonstration seeking the independence of Tibet; is further concerned that her sentence was extended initially by nine years for singing pro-independence songs in prison, and thereafter by a further eight years for a series of protests in prison against a re-education programme; notes that she is due to be released in 2013 by which time she will have spent nearly 21 of her 36 years in prison; is further concerned over reports that her health and well-being are deteriorating; and calls on the UK Government to do all that it can to put pressure on the Chinese Government to release Ngawang Sangdrol.

Signatures by party: Labour 58, Liberal Democrat 21, Conservative 12, Labour/Co-operative 6, Scottish National Party 4, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 2, DUP 1.