TENZIN DELEG RINPOCHE

Early day motion 1780, tabled 20 October 2003 by Annabelle Ewing (Scottish National Party). Signed by 72 members.

That this House deplores the death sentence facing the respected Buddhist religious leader, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, in Tibet that was handed down in an unfair trial on 2nd December 2002 and confirmed in a retrial in January; notes with concern that neither trial conformed to international fair trial standards; and that Rinpoche has been held incommunicado since January; further notes that this death sentence could be carried out by April 2004, or be commuted to a life sentence, which in itself constitutes a death sentence, given the prevalence of torture and poor prison conditions in Tibet; and calls upon the Government to put pressure on the Chinese authorities to remove the death sentence, particularly during the UK Human Rights Dialogue with China, scheduled for 9th to 10th November, thus allowing a fair and free retrial that allows international impartial observers.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Liberal Democrat 17, Conservative 6, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 2, DUP 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1.