TENZIN DELEG RINPOCHE

Early day motion 164, tabled 1 December 2003 by Annabelle Ewing (Scottish National Party). Signed by 127 members.

That this House deplores the death sentence facing respected Buddist 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 prevalance of torture and poor prison conditions in Tibet; and calls upon the UK Government to put pressure on the Chinese authorities to remove the death sentence and allow a fair and free retrial in the presence of international impartial observers.

Signatures by party: Labour 63, Liberal Democrat 27, Conservative 19, Labour/Co-operative 5, Scottish National Party 5, Plaid Cymru 4, UUP 2, DUP 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1.