[Deathpenalty]death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 5


CHINA:

China jails Nepalese Maoists


A Chinese court in Lhasa has commuted the death sentences handed down to 2
Nepalese and three Tibetans convicted of smuggling weapons and ammunition.


In Aug. 2004 the 5 men received the death penalty after being found guilty
by the Xigaze Intermediate People's Court in Tibet. Tuesday, state-run
media said the Higher People's Court of the Tibetan Autonomous Region in
Lhasa lessened the sentences since all 5 had shown contrition for their
acts.

Xinhua reported 1 Nepali named Ananda had been given the death penalty
with a 2-year reprieve. The other man, Gyaljen, had his death sentence
commuted to life imprisonment.

A Tibetan named Qubzhag also received a 2-year stay of execution while two
other Tibetans, Celo and Lobsang Qoizhag, had their death penalties
commuted to life terms.

The Nepalese are suspected members of a Maoist-inspired communist guerilla
group in the mountainous Himalayan kingdom sandwiched between China and
India that has claimed more than 11,000 lives since the insurgency began.

(source: United Press International)