Spain responds to China’s pressure on Tibet lawsuit and votes for legal ‘reform’
Campaigners warn of dangerous precedent, with China deciding how international law should be applied
Contacts:
Alan Cantos, Comité de Apoyo al Tíbet, email alan.cantos@ainco.es,
Alison Reynolds, International Tibet Network Secretariat, + 44 7711 843884.
(available in spanish in the end)
The International Tibet Network [1] deplores tonight’s vote in Spain’s Parliament, where – in a move clearly influenced by China – Spanish Deputies (with 179 votes to 163) [2] supported a Bill in favour of a limit on its universal jurisdiction law over international crimes, irrespective of where they are committed, to cases against a Spaniard or foreign citizen who is on Spanish soil. [3] This move threatens the future of the ground-breaking Tibet lawsuit, since all the leaders indicted by Spain’s National Court – including former President Jiang Zemin, for whom an arrest warrant was ordered on 10 February [4] – are resident in China. The Bill now must pass through the Spanish Senate before it can become law.
“This could set a dangerous precedent affecting the whole system of international law,” said Alan Cantos of Comité de Apoyo al Tíbet, which filed the lawsuit. [5] “Suddenly, China is deciding how international law should be applied. My organisation and our co-plaintiffs stand ready to appeal this decision, to defend Spain’s universal duty to prevent and punish the most egregious human rights violations in Tibet, as offenses against all humanity.”
Alison Reynolds of the International Tibet Network added, “This Tibet lawsuit has already made history, with arrest warrants issued for Jiang Zemin, Li Peng and others, Hu Jintao indicted as a genocidaire and an impartial court finding that acts of genocide were committed in Tibet. Now, to its shame, the Spanish Parliament is eviscerating its own laws to please Beijing. But no political act can erase these impartial judicial decisions. So truth has already had its victory.”
Tibet Groups around the world will continue to press Spain to consider very carefully the impact of these changes on Spain’s proud legacy of promoting justice without impunity. Over 8,000 people have signed a petition directed at Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. [6] Meanwhile the situation in Tibet remains critical, and to date at least 126 Tibetans in Tibet, male and female, young and old, have set fire to their bodies in acts of protest against China’s harsh rule. Most recently, on 5 February 2014, 29-year old father of two Phagmo Samdrub, set himself ablaze and died “for the cause of Tibet”. [7]
Notes
1. International Tibet Network is a global coalition of 190 Tibet-related campaign groups www.tibetnetwork.org
3. See http://politica.elpais.com/
4. Spanish High Court Judge Ismael Moreno issued arrest warrants on 10 February 2014 for;
– Jiang Zemin, former President and Party Secretary;
– Li Peng, Prime Minister during the repression in Tibet in late 1980s and early 1990s (and the crackdown in Tiananmen);
– Qiao Shi, former head of Chinese security and responsible for the People¹s Armed Police during the martial law period in Tibet in the late 1980s;
– Chen Kuiyuan, Party secretary in the Tibet Autonomous Region from 1992 to 2001 (who was known for his hardline position against Tibetan religion and culture),
– Deng Delyun (also known as Peng Pelyun), minister of family planning in the 1990s.
See http://www.reuters.com/
On 9 October 2013, Spain’s National Court indicted China’s former President and Party Secretary Hu Jintao for genocide and other grave crimes in Tibet, relating both to the period Hu was Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region (1988 – 1992), when he presided over martial law in 1989, and his responsibility for Tibet policy as Party Secretary and President of China (2002/03 – 2012/13). Hu lost immunity when he stepped down as China’s President in March 2013. On 18 November 2013, the Spanish National Court ordered that Hu be informed of his indictment and sent questions via the Chinese embassy. See http://www.savetibet.org/
5. Spain’s National Court is dealing with two criminal lawsuits brought by CAT, filed in 2005 and 2008. The later lawsuit is currently suspended and on appeal at the Spanish Constitutional Court, due to a disputed reform in the law to limit retroactively the application of Universal Jurisdiction, by invoking the need of a “national connection” and Spanish victim(s).
6. See http://standupfortibet.org/
7. See http://standupfortibet.org/
Signed by Member Groups of the International Tibet Network:
Western Europe Aide aux Refugies Tibetains Association Dorje Association Drôme Ardèche-Tibet Association Rencontres Tibetaines – C.S.P.T. Midi-Pyrenees Associazione Italia -Tibet Austrian Committee for Tibet Autodétermination-Tibet 09/31 Briancon05 Urgence Tibet Caisse d’Aide aux Prisonniers Tibetains Casa del Tibet – Spain Comite de Apoyo al Tibet (CAT) Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain (Les Lilas) Corse – Tibet Eco-Tibet France EcoTibet Ireland France Tibet Free Tibet Groupe Non-Violent Louis Lecoin, France Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal International Society of Human Rights, Munich Chapter (IGFM) Jamtse Thundel Association La Porte du Tibet, Geneva Les Amis du Tibet – Belgium Les Amis du Tibet Luxembourg Lions Des Neiges Mont Blanc, France Lungta Association Belgium Maison des Himalayas Maison du Tibet – Tibet Info Nice Tibet Nos Amis de l’Himalaya Objectif Tibet Passeport Tibetain Phagma Drolma-Arya Tara Reseau International des Femmes pour le Tibet Save Tibet, Austria Society for Threatened Peoples International Solidarite Tibet Students for a Free Tibet – France Students for a Free Tibet – UK Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF) Tibet 59 / 62 Tibet Democratie Tibet Initiative Deutschland Tibets Kinder im Exile V. Tibet Liberte Solidarite Tibet Libertes, France Tibet Society, U.K. Tibet Support Group – Ireland Tibet Support Group – Netherlands Tibet Unterstutzung Liechtenstein Tibetan Association of Germany Tibetan Community Austria Tibetan Community in Britain Tibetan Community in Ireland Tibetan Youth Association in Europe Tibetan Youth UK TSG Free Tibet And You Tsowa-Maintenir la Vie, France Vrienden Van Tibet Tibetan Community of Italy Tibetaanse-Vlaamse Vriendenkring vzw Northern Europe Association of Free Tibet Friends of Tibet in Finland Swedish Tibet Committee SFT Denmark The Norwegian Tibet Committee Tibet Support Committee Denmark Tibetan Community in Denmark Tibetan Community Sweden Central & Eastern Europe Fair Society o.s. Friends of Tibet Slovakia Friends of Tibet Society St. Petersburg, Russia International Youth Human Rights Group – Human Rights in Tibet Lithuanian Tibet Culture Foundation Polish Movement for a Free Tibet Save Tibet Foundation Society for Croatia-Tibet Friendship Students for a Free Tibet, Poland The Foundation for Civil Society, Russia Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech) Tibet Support Association – Hungary Tibet Support Group – Krasnodar Region, Russia Tibet Support Group – Romania Tibet Support Group – Sochi Region, Russia Tibetan Community in Poland Tibetan Programme of The Other Space Foundation TSG – Slovenia Union Latvija Tibetai (Latvia for Tibet ) Zida Cels, Latvia Tibetan Association of Slovakia North America Association Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina Bay Area Friends of Tibet Boston Tibet Network Canada Tibet Committee Colorado Friends of Tibet Committee of 100 for Tibet CTC – Calgary Dhokam Chushi Gangdruk International Tibet Independence Movement Los Angeles Friends of Tibet Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association San Diego Friends of Tibet Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet Sierra Friends of Tibet Snow Lion Foundation Students for a Free Tibet Students for a Free Tibet – Canada The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago The World Tibet Day Foundation Tibet Committee of Fairbanks Tibet Justice Center Tibetan Association of Ithaca Tibetan Association of Northern California Tibetan Association of Philadelphia Tibetan Association of Santa Fe Tibetan Association of Southern California Tibetan Cultural Association – Quebec TIBETmichigan Tibet Oral History Project Toronto Tibet Youth Congress United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT) U.S. Tibet Committee Western Colorado Friends of Tibet Wisconsin Tibetan Association Central and South America Amigos del Tibet, El Salvador Asociación Cultural Peruano Tibetana Asociación Cultural Tibetano – Costarricense Casa Tibet Mexico Centro De Cultura Tibetana – Brazil Grupo De Apoyo a Tibet Chile Grupo Pro-Cultura Tibetana, Chile Le Club Francais – Paraguay Pensando En Tibet – Mexico Tibet Group-Panama Tíbet Patria Libre, Uruguay Fundación Pro Tibet – Argentina Friends of Tibet in Costa Rica World League for Freedom and Democracy Asia Bharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, India Core Group for Tibetan Cause, India Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H. H. the Dalai Lama Gannasamannay Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet India Tibet Friendship Society Japan Association of Monks for Tibet (Super Sangha) Lung-Ta Project Mahatma Gandhi Tibet Freedom Movement National Campaign for Tibetan Support, India National Democratic Party of Tibet Raise Tibetan Flag Campaign Roof of the World Foundation, Indonesia SFT Japan SFT India Students for a Free Tibet – Bangladesh Taiwan Friends of Tibet Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, Mongolia and Turkestan Tibet Lives, India Tibet Philippines Support Network Tibet Solidarity Forum, Bangladesh Tibet Support Group Kiku, Japan Tibet Support Network Japan Tibetan Student Association, Madras (TSAM) Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre Tibetan Rights and Freedom Committee (TRFRC) Tibetan Women’s Association (Central) Tibetan Youth Congress Japan Committee of 100 for TIbet Ns3 Rigpa Community Builder’s Foundation Anterrashtriya Bharat – Tibbet Sahyog Samiti Australasia A.C.T. Tibet Support Group Australia Tibet Council Friends of Tibet New Zealand Students for a Free Tibet New Zealand ————————————————————Declaración Conjunta de los Miembros de la Red Internacional del Tíbet, 11 de febrero 2014España responde a la presión de China sobre la demanda del Tíbet y vota por una “reforma” legalActivistas advierten del peligroso precedente, con China decidiendo cómo debe aplicarse el derecho internacional
Contactos:
Alan Cantos, Comité de Apoyo al Tíbet, email alan.cantos@ainco.es,
Alison Reynolds, International Tibet Network Secretariat, + 44 7711 843884.
La Red Internacional del Tíbet [1] condena la votación de esta noche en el Parlamento de España, donde – en un movimiento claramente influenciado por China – Diputados españoles (con 179 votos a favor y 163 en contra) [2] apoyaron un proyecto de ley a favor de un límite en la ley de jurisdicción universal sobre los crímenes internacionales, independientemente del lugar en que se cometieron, para los casos en contra de un ciudadano español o extranjero que se encuentra en suelo español. [3] Esta medida pone en peligro el futuro de la innovadora demanda del Tíbet, ya que todos los líderes de los acusados por el Tribunal Nacional de España – entre ellos el ex presidente Jiang Zemin, por quien se emitió una orden de detención el 10 de febrero [4] – son residentes en China. El proyecto de ley ahora debe pasar por el Senado Español antes de que pueda convertirse en ley.
“Esto podría sentar un peligroso precedente que afecta a todo el sistema de derecho internacional”, dijo Alan Cantos del Comité de Apoyo al Tíbet, quien presentó la demanda. [5] “De repente, China esta decidiendo cómo debería aplicarse el derecho internacional. Mi organización y nuestros co-demandantes estamos dispuestos a apelar esta desición, para defender el deber universal de España para prevenir y castigar las más graves violaciones de los derechos humanos en el Tíbet, como delitos contra la humanidad”.
Alison Reynolds de la Red Internacional del Tíbet agregó, “Esta demanda del Tíbet ya ha hecho historia, con órdenes de detención emitidas para Jiang Zemin, Li Peng y otros, Hu Jintao acusado como un genocida así como un tribunal imparcial aceptando que estos actos de genocidio fueron cometidos en el Tíbet. Ahora, para su vergüenza, el parlamento español aniquila sus propias leyes para complacer a Beijing. Pero ningún acto político puede borrar estas decisiones judiciales imparciales. Así que la verdad ya ha tenido su victoria”.
Grupos de apoyo a Tíbet en todo el mundo seguirán presionando a España para que considere de forma muy cuidadosa el impacto de estos cambios en el orgulloso legado de España por promover la justicia sin impunidad. Más de 8.000 personas han firmado una petición dirigida al primer ministro de España Mariano Rajoy. [6] Mientras tanto, la situación en el Tíbet sigue siendo crítica y hasta la fecha, al menos 126 tibetanos dentro de Tíbet, hombres y mujeres, jóvenes y viejos, han prendido fuego a sus cuerpos en actos de protesta contra el duro régimen de China. Recientemente, el 5 de febrero de 2014, Phagmo Samdrub de 29 años de edad y padre de dos hijos, se prendió fuego y murió “por la causa del Tíbet”. [7]
Notas
1. La Red International del Tíbet es una coalición global de 190 grupos relacionados con Tíbet www.tibetnetwork.org
3. Ver http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/01/22/actualidad/1390418719_906409.html (En Castellano). El proyecto de ley pide un límite a las investigaciones sobre los delitos de genocidio y crímenes contra la humanidad, cuando “los procedimientos se dirigen contra un ciudadano español o extranjero que tenga residencia habitual en España o se encuentra en suelo español y cuya extradición sería negado por las autoridades españolas”
4. El Magistrado de la Audiencia Española Ismael Moreno dictó órdenes de detención el 10 de febrero de 2014 para:
– Jiang Zemin, ex Presidente y Secretario del Partido;
– Li Peng, Primer Ministro durante la represión en Tíbet a finales de 1980 y principios de 1990 (y la represión en Tiananmen);
– Qiao Shi, el ex jefe de seguridad de China y responsable de la Policía Armada Popular durante el período de la ley marcial en el Tíbet a finales de 1980;
– Chen Kuiyuan, Secretario del Partido en la Región Autónoma del Tíbet 1992-2001 (quien era conocido por su posición de línea dura contra la religión y la cultura tibetana),
– Deng Delyun (también conocido como Peng Pelyun), ministro de planificación familiar en la década de 1990.
Ver http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/china-spain-idUSE8N0G000020140210
El 9 de octubre de 2013, la Audiencia Nacional de España acusó al ex presidente de China y secretario del Partido Hu Jintao por genocidio y otros delitos graves en el Tíbet, en relación tanto con el periodo en el que Hu fue secretario del Partido de la Región Autónoma del Tíbet (1988 – 1992), como cuando presidió la ley marcial en 1989 y su responsabilidad en la política del Tíbet como Secretario del Partido y Presidente de China (2002/03 – 2012/13). Hu perdió la inmunidad cuando dejó el cargo de presidente de China en marzo de 2013. El 18 de noviembre de 2013, la Audiencia Nacional Española ordenó que Hu fuera informado de su acusación y envió preguntas a través de la embajada china.Ver http://www.savetibet.org/chinas-former-leader-hu-jintao-indicted-for-policies-in-tibet-by-spanish-court/
5. La Audiencia Nacional de España está tratando con dos demandas penales interpuestas por el CAT, presentadas en 2005 y 2008. La demanda se encuentra en suspenso como en apelación ante el Tribunal Constitucional Español, debido a la disputada reforma en la ley para limitar retroactivamente la aplicación de la jurisdicción universal, invocando la necesidad de una “conexión nacional” y la víctima española(s).
6. Ver http://standupfortibet.org/spanish-lawsuit/
7. Ver http://standupfortibet.org/learn-more/
Firmado por los Grupos Miembros de la Red Internacional del Tíbet:
Europa Occidental Aide aux Refugies Tibetains Association Dorje Association Drôme Ardèche-Tibet Association Rencontres Tibetaines – C.S.P.T. Midi-Pyrenees Associazione Italia -Tibet Austrian Committee for Tibet Autodétermination-Tibet 09/31 Briancon05 Urgence Tibet Caisse d’Aide aux Prisonniers Tibetains Casa del Tibet – Spain Comite de Apoyo al Tibet (CAT) Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain (Les Lilas) Corse – Tibet Eco-Tibet France EcoTibet Ireland France Tibet Free Tibet Groupe Non-Violent Louis Lecoin, France Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal International Society of Human Rights, Munich Chapter (IGFM) Jamtse Thundel Association La Porte du Tibet, Geneva Les Amis du Tibet – Belgium Les Amis du Tibet Luxembourg Lions Des Neiges Mont Blanc, France Lungta Association Belgium Maison des Himalayas Maison du Tibet – Tibet Info Nice Tibet Nos Amis de l’Himalaya Objectif Tibet Passeport Tibetain Phagma Drolma-Arya Tara Reseau International des Femmes pour le Tibet Save Tibet, Austria Society for Threatened Peoples International Solidarite Tibet Students for a Free Tibet – France Students for a Free Tibet – UK Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF) Tibet 59 / 62 Tibet Democratie Tibet Initiative Deutschland Tibets Kinder im Exile V. Tibet Liberte Solidarite Tibet Libertes, France Tibet Society, U.K. Tibet Support Group – Ireland Tibet Support Group – Netherlands Tibet Unterstutzung Liechtenstein Tibetan Association of Germany Tibetan Community Austria Tibetan Community in Britain Tibetan Community in Ireland Tibetan Youth Association in Europe Tibetan Youth UK TSG Free Tibet And You Tsowa-Maintenir la Vie, France Vrienden Van Tibet Tibetan Community of Italy Tibetaanse-Vlaamse Vriendenkring vzw Europa del Norte Association of Free Tibet Friends of Tibet in Finland Swedish Tibet Committee SFT Denmark The Norwegian Tibet Committee Tibet Support Committee Denmark Tibetan Community in Denmark Tibetan Community Sweden Europa Central y del Este Fair Society o.s. Friends of Tibet Slovakia Friends of Tibet Society St. Petersburg, Russia International Youth Human Rights Group – Human Rights in Tibet Lithuanian Tibet Culture Foundation Polish Movement for a Free Tibet Save Tibet Foundation Society for Croatia-Tibet Friendship Students for a Free Tibet, Poland The Foundation for Civil Society, Russia Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech) Tibet Support Association – Hungary Tibet Support Group – Krasnodar Region, Russia Tibet Support Group – Romania Tibet Support Group – Sochi Region, Russia Tibetan Community in Poland Tibetan Programme of The Other Space Foundation TSG – Slovenia Union Latvija Tibetai (Latvia for Tibet ) Zida Cels, Latvia Tibetan Association of Slovakia America del Norte Association Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina Bay Area Friends of Tibet Boston Tibet Network Canada Tibet Committee Colorado Friends of Tibet Committee of 100 for Tibet CTC – Calgary Dhokam Chushi Gangdruk International Tibet Independence Movement Los Angeles Friends of Tibet Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association San Diego Friends of Tibet Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet Sierra Friends of Tibet Snow Lion Foundation Students for a Free Tibet Students for a Free Tibet – Canada The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago The World Tibet Day Foundation Tibet Committee of Fairbanks Tibet Justice Center Tibetan Association of Ithaca Tibetan Association of Northern California Tibetan Association of Philadelphia Tibetan Association of Santa Fe Tibetan Association of Southern California Tibetan Cultural Association – Quebec TIBETmichigan Tibet Oral History Project Toronto Tibet Youth Congress United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT) U.S. Tibet Committee Western Colorado Friends of Tibet Wisconsin Tibetan Association América Latina Amigos del Tibet, El Salvador Asociación Cultural Peruano Tibetana Asociación Cultural Tibetano – Costarricense Casa Tibet Mexico Centro De Cultura Tibetana – Brazil Grupo De Apoyo a Tíbet Chile Grupo Pro-Cultura Tibetana, Chile Le Club Francais – Paraguay Tibet Mx- México Tibet Group-Panama Tíbet Patria Libre, Uruguay Fundación Pro Tibet – Argentina Friends of Tibet in Costa Rica World League for Freedom and Democracy Asia Bharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, India Core Group for Tibetan Cause, India Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H. H. the Dalai Lama Gannasamannay Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet India Tibet Friendship Society Japan Association of Monks for Tibet (Super Sangha) Lung-Ta Project Mahatma Gandhi Tibet Freedom Movement National Campaign for Tibetan Support, India National Democratic Party of Tibet Raise Tibetan Flag Campaign Roof of the World Foundation, Indonesia SFT Japan SFT India Students for a Free Tibet – Bangladesh Taiwan Friends of Tibet Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, Mongolia and Turkestan Tibet Lives, India Tibet Philippines Support Network Tibet Solidarity Forum, Bangladesh Tibet Support Group Kiku, Japan Tibet Support Network Japan Tibetan Student Association, Madras (TSAM) Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre Tibetan Rights and Freedom Committee (TRFRC) Tibetan Women’s Association (Central) Tibetan Youth Congress Japan Committee of 100 for TIbet Ns3 Rigpa Community Builder’s Foundation Anterrashtriya Bharat – Tibbet Sahyog Samiti Australasia A.C.T. Tibet Support Group Australia Tibet Council Tibet Support Network Japan Students for a Free Tibet New Zealand
