SPAIN/FILE: Spain's high court asks Interpol to arrest China's former President Jiang Zemin for questioning on charges brought by Tibetan rights groups in Spain

Record ID: 1403826

  • Title: SPAIN/FILE: Spain's high court asks Interpol to arrest China's former President Jiang Zemin for questioning on charges brought by Tibetan rights groups in Spain
  • Date: 11th February 2014
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF THUBTEN WANGCHEN READING 'EL PAIS' NEWSPAPER
  • Embargoed: 26th February 2014 22:46
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABAELY9CFHTIGH4CCZBCGHLA7V
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: A Spanish judge on Monday (February 10) sought the arrest of China's former president and premier over accusations of genocide in Tibet in an eight-year-old case that prompted a sharp rebuke from Beijing.
    High Court Judge Ismael Moreno asked Interpol to issue orders for the detention of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, ex-premier Li Peng and three other officials for questioning on charges.
    The case was brought in Spain in 2006 by two Tibetan support groups and Thubten Wangchen, a Tibetan Buddhist monk with Spanish citizenship.
    Wangchen welcomed the decision on Tuesday (February 11).

    "We are very happy about the decision made by the judges. It is a very worthy decision despite the heavy pressure of the Chinese government on the Spanish government," he told Reuters in an interview.
    Born in Tibet but raised in Spain, Wangchen explained their reasons to bring the complaint to justice.

    "The main reason for the legal action is that the Chinese government not only invaded Tibet but also killed one million Tibetans, including my own mother. They (Tibetans) have been victims of Chinese and then, six million of Tibetans in Tibet and eight million of Chinese in Tibet."
    However, the case may not progress as Spain's ruling People's Party is pushing through rules to limit judges' ability to pursue cases under universal jurisdiction, the principle that crimes against humanity can be prosecuted across borders.

    "This is an important achievement at an international level but the reality is that we are not expecting anything to happen beyond this," Wangchen said.
    This is the same concept used by former judge Baltasar Garzon to bring about the arrest of Chile's ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet in London in 1998. Pinochet was eventually allowed to return to Chile for health reasons.
    Judge Moreno asked Interpol to issue the arrest order seeking Jiang's detention for genocide, torture and crimes against humanity. He issued similar orders for Li and other Chinese officials in the 1980s and 1990s.

    "(China) is extremely dissatisfied with and resolutely opposed to the wrong actions of the relevant Spanish organ taken while ignoring China's solemn position," China's Foreign Ministry said it would tell Spain.
    Interpol, the international police organisation, issues Red Notices for wanted people, based on judicial orders from courts in its 190 member countries. Police in member countries can detain wanted persons on their soil based on the alerts.
    China's Foreign Ministry called on Spain on Friday (February 7) to prevent further lawsuits that seek to investigate alleged rights abuses in Tibet.
    Trade and investment between Spain and China grew at the beginning of the past decade but has stagnated in Spain's long economic and financial crisis. Spain had a 12-billion euros trade deficit with China last year, down from 14 billion euros a year earlier.
    China says it "peacefully liberated" the Himalayan region, which it says was mired in poverty, exploitation and economic stagnation.
    Tibet is the latest high-profile cause to be taken up in Spain's courts. Over the years a number of Spanish judges have tried to charge, arrest or question international figures over human rights accusations.
    Jiang Zemin was President of China from 1993 to 2003 and served as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist party from 1989 to 2002. He came to power following the Tiananmen Square protest of 1989 and during his tenure China went into a period of growth and improving relationships with Western powers.
    jrc/
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