Hopes rise for 22 Indian traders in Chinese jail as Wen lands in Delhi
BEIJING: Hopes rose for 22 Indian traders, who have been in a south China jail since January, as premier Wen Jiabao landed in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Chinese government indicated that it will handle the case as per discussions being carried out with Indian authorities. It is possible the two countries might enter into an agreement for transfer of persons sentenced in the respective jurisdictions.
A foreign ministry spokesman told TNN on Wednesday that the competent authority in China will 'fulfill the relevant obligation and duties as provided for in the consular agreement' reached with Indian authorities. The 'lawful rights and interests' of the affected people will also be taken into consideration, he said.
This is a clear improvement over earlier statements by the foreign ministry, which insisted that the judicial process will take its own course in the case of the 22 Indians, who were taken into custody as part of investigations in a case of alleged diamond smuggling.
The spokesman also said that the case has now been handed over to the prosecution authorities. This is in apparent response to criticism that the affected Indians were held without access to proper judicial process and even without being informed about the details of the charges imposed on them.
Family members of the detained persons, mostly Gujaratis from Mumbai and Surat, expect the matter to be resolved through discussions during the New Delhi visit of the Chinese premier. Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao raised the issue with Chinese vice foreign minister Zhang Zhijun in Beijing last month. She was worried that the health of the some of the detained traders was not good.
'We should find a way now to have these people released,' Rao said. She indicated the two countries would explore arriving at a transfer of sentenced person's agreement soon, to handle such cases in future.
A foreign ministry spokesman told TNN on Wednesday that the competent authority in China will 'fulfill the relevant obligation and duties as provided for in the consular agreement' reached with Indian authorities. The 'lawful rights and interests' of the affected people will also be taken into consideration, he said.
This is a clear improvement over earlier statements by the foreign ministry, which insisted that the judicial process will take its own course in the case of the 22 Indians, who were taken into custody as part of investigations in a case of alleged diamond smuggling.
The spokesman also said that the case has now been handed over to the prosecution authorities. This is in apparent response to criticism that the affected Indians were held without access to proper judicial process and even without being informed about the details of the charges imposed on them.
Family members of the detained persons, mostly Gujaratis from Mumbai and Surat, expect the matter to be resolved through discussions during the New Delhi visit of the Chinese premier. Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao raised the issue with Chinese vice foreign minister Zhang Zhijun in Beijing last month. She was worried that the health of the some of the detained traders was not good.
'We should find a way now to have these people released,' Rao said. She indicated the two countries would explore arriving at a transfer of sentenced person's agreement soon, to handle such cases in future.
Comments