10 April 2009 :
Amnesty International condemned a decision by a court in Lhasa to hand down death sentences to two Tibetans accused of starting fatal fires in Lhasa during protests in March 2008. Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International's Asia Pacific Director, said: 'Amnesty International condemns the death sentences handed down to Losang Gyaltse and Loyar. We have recorded a pattern of unfair trials leading to death sentences in China. Under these conditions it's very unlikely that these sentences stand up. We urge the death sentences to be overturned.'