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EGP STATEMENT: 07.07.2010. European Greens Express Concern About Tibetan Environmentalist’s 5 year Prison Sentence
07.07.2010
The European Green Party has expressed serious concern about reports that a Tibetan environmental activist, Rinchen Samdrup, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a Chinese court.
EGP Co-Spokesperson, Philippe Lamberts, says: "It is extremely worrying that one of Tibet's leading environmentalists has been given a five year prison sentence, simply because an article in support the Dalai Lama appeared on his website. The fact that one of Mr Samdrup's brothers was given a 15 year prison sentence just over a week ago means that there can be no doubt that Rinchen Samdrup and his family are being targeted because of his environmental activism. In particular, Rinchen Samdrup has challenged powerful local interests in his campaign against poaching, including accusing a police officer of poaching, and this is obviously the reason behind the prosecution of Mr Samdrup."
"As a member of the European Parliament's Delegation to the Republic of China, I will be looking into this case as a matter of urgency. I will raise this matter with the Chinese authorities and ask for an explanation of the circumstances surrounding Rinchen Samdrup's case."