Spain probes Hu Jintao ‘genocide’ in Tibet court case

SPAIN’S top criminal court will hear a case brought by Tibetan rights activists who allege China´s former president committed genocide in Tibet.

Judges ruled they were competent to handle the case because one of the activists is a Spanish citizen.

Communist Party leader Hu Jinatao was president of Tibet between 1988 and 1992 when Chinese troops quashed mass protests.

China imposed martial law in Tibet, an autonomous region ruled by Beijing.

The Madrid-based Tibetan Support Committee allege that as a communist leader in the region he was ultimately responsible for the actions.

The Spanish legal system recognises the universal justice principle, under which genocide suspects can be put on trial outside their home country.

For Spain to hold the trial there is a requirement at least one victim of alleged genocide must be a Spanish citizen.