WHEN PRIME Minister Paul Martin met the Dalai Lama in Ottawa last spring, he indicated that when
he got the chance he'd lobby the Chinese for human rights and justice in Tibet.

He now gets his chance.

Martin is on his way to meet China's leaders in Beijing, with a detour to visit tsunami disaster
zones in Thailand and Sri Lanka. In Beijing, Martin's presence adds clout to a Trade Team Canada
visit by a business group led by International Trade Minister Jim Peterson, hoping to drum up
business for Canada in such varying fields as aerospace, tourism, communications, agrifood,
biotechnology, transportation, etc.

Participants will pay $1,050 each for visits and discussion in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

The Canada Tibet Committee is reminding Martin of his pledge, and hopes (against hope) that he
won't forget what he said when he became the first Canadian PM to risk Beijing's displeasure for
meeting the Dalai Lama.

When Martin meets with China's President Hu Jingtao one wonders if he'll raise the question of
Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche who is under a sentence of death.

What, you may ask, does a death sentence to a Tibetan monk have to do with international or any
other sort of trade?

Well, Martin assured the Dalai Lama that he identified with the spiritual values of His Holiness,
and indicated he supported Tibet's cause.

Tenzin Delek has become an international issue, with countries like Norway, Sweden and the
European Union urging clemency -- or at least commuting the death sentence.

Human rights groups like Amnesty International urge he be spared. Even the Parliamentary Friends
of Tibet (PFT), comprised of over 100 Canadian Parliamentarians, have urged China to reconsider.

Here's the story: On Dec. 2, 2002, Tibetan Buddhist monks Tenzin Delek, 54, and Lobsang Dhondup,
28, were found guilty at a secret trial of planting a series of bombs in Chengdu that killed one
and injured another, all in the cause of Tibetan independence.

They were sentenced to death. No lawyers, no witnesses.

The verdict was reviewed by a regional court, and on Jan. 22, 2003, the appeals were rejected.

Within hours, Lobsang Dhonup was executed. Tenzin Delek got a two-year reprieve -- that ran out
Dec. 2. He may be executed any time, but hasn't been yet.

Where his case gets murky is that Delek is a devout follower of the Dalai Lama, and an ardent
believer in non-violence, even to enemies. There is no persuasive evidence that he ever advocated
violence in the struggle for Tibet's independence that he so passionately espouses.

The Canadian embassy in Beijing has urged the death sentence be commuted, as has the U.S. state
department, and various European countries.

Amnesty International views Tenzin Delek as a political prisoner and has urged China to stop all
executions, "particularly execution of political prisoners."

For Tenzin, the death penalty is merely on hold.

Canada's Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew says, "We have asked them to stop this execution," and
has joined other countries in the cause.

Local Tibetans say that in 1993, before his arrest, Tenzin had successfully agitated to stop a
deforestation program underway in Sichuan province.

If Prime Minister Martin has the gumption to make an issue of this case in China, even quietly, he
may have saved the life of an innocent man.

At any rate, it is unlikely the Chinese will execute Tenzin Delek while Trade Team Canada is in
China being wined and dined.

After the Canadians go home with whatever contracts they can muster, it may become clearer if
Martin dared raise the case of the Tibetan monk on death row, and if the Chinese paid any
attention.