Beijing court says environmentalist Tibetan monk to die

[dArKeR]

The Chinese government has sentenced a highly-respected and prominent Tibetan lama to death in a closed trial on charges he was involved in a bombing in a public park, a leading human rights group reported.

In a 108-page report released Sunday, Human Rights Watch said allegations that the monk, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, 53, financed an April 3, 2002 blast in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province that injured three people, were notproven and called for his release.

"In spite of China's rhetoric about legal reform, Tenzin Delek's case shows that when it comes to Tibet, the Chinese government still does not tolerate uncontrolled political or religious activity," said Mickey Spiegel, of Human Rights Watch's Asian division.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/02/10/2003098163

[Blitz]

1. The U.S.'s and UN's record of inaction re: China's human rights abuses

is simply shameful. Bush I and the U.S. Congress gave up a whole lot of moral real estate when they approved MFN status on the heels of Tianemen Square and neither Clinton nor Bush II has done a thing to win back even an inch if that ground. The international community, which generally continues to treat Taiwan as a pariah for fear of angering China is even worse. The U.N. should be ashamed that the PLO has greater status within it than a thriving democracy like Taiwan. Hussein, Arafat, Kim, Mugabe and dozens of other thugs, murderers and psychopaths are provided a platform in New York City while the people of Taiwan and their democratically elected representatives continue to be shut out. Shame.