Madrid: A Spanish judge has issued international arrest warrants against China’s former President Jiang Zemin and former Prime Minister Li Peng over Tibetan genocide charges on Monday, according to Spain’s National court.
High Court judge Ismael Moreno asked Interpol to issue orders for the detention of the two former leaders and three other officials over charges brought to the court by Tibetan rights group. In the order, he wrote, “Jiang exercised supervisory authority over the people who directly committed abuses, which makes him responsible for acts of torture and other major abuses of human rights perpetrated by his subordinates against the people of Tibet”.
The case, however, may not progress as Spain’s ruling People’s Party is pushing through new rules to limit judges’ ability to pursue cases under universal jurisdiction, the principle that crimes against humanity can be prosecuted across borders.
Tibet is the latest high-profile case to be taken up in Spain’s courts. Over the years a number of judges have tried to charge, arrest or question international figures over human rights accusations.