New Delhi, November 2 – Demanding release of a Tibetan monk who is reportedly to be hanged in China next month, JD (U) leader George Fernandes joined four Tibetan organisations in a protest demonstration in New Delhi on Tuesday and asked the Centre to intervene in the matter.
“India has good relations with China but these should not be limited only to commerce, but used to uphold human rights. The Indian government has the responsibility to tell the Chinese government and people that the injustice being done to Trulku Tenzin Delek should be stopped,” Fernandes said addressing the protestors.
Delek, 54, has reportedly been sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in a bomb blast in Chengdu city of China in April 2002 in which one person was killed and 12 others injured. He is to be executed on December 2.
Fernandes asked the Chinese government to “honour” the human rights of Delek and at least order a fresh trial.
“He was sentenced to death by a court in one sitting in an in-camera trial. Let him get a fair trial,” he added.
The four organisations which took part in the protest — Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Tibetan Ex-Political Prisoners’ Association and National Democratic Party of Tibet — will also hold prayer meetings and candle light vigil to press for Delek’s release, their spokesman Karma Choemphel said.
