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Date: 21 February 2007 Release: Immediate
BHS President Noel Edmonds pleads for release of jailed British horse rider
Noel Edmonds, President of The British Horse Society, today (21 February) wrote to Indian president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam to plead for the release of jailed British horse rider Daniel Robinson.
Mr Robinson, 38, of north London, was arrested last October for not having a visa after entering India to seek medical and veterinary help. He was nearing the end of a 200-day, 3,000km ride along the ancient trans-Himalayan Tea Horse Caravan Road from Dequn in Yunnan Province, south-west China, to the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
The exhausted rider was denounced as a "Chinese spy" by the Indian authorities, thrown into jail and subsequently sentenced to a year's imprisonment. He is now said to be sleeping on the floor of an overcrowded cell containing 150 prisoners.
The US-based Long Riders Guild has told The British Horse Society that when Mr Robinson appeal is heard on 1 March the prosecutors are set to call for his sentence to be increased to 10 years.
In his letter, broadcaster Noel Edmonds, in his role as President of The British Horse Society, acknowledges that Mr Robinson committed a visa offence, while asking the Indian President to recognise that harm was neither intended nor committed, because the rider was merely seeking urgent medical and veterinary aid.
"The British Horse Society asks the Indian Government to accept that no disrespect of Indian law was intended, that no harm to the peace and well-being of the Indian people was ever likely to ensue from Daniel's error in looking to the Indian authorities for humanitarian assistance," said Mr Edmonds.
"To prolong his imprisonment would be to continue to punish a man for an offence which was committed wholly without intention to do harm."
Text of the letter
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam President of India via The High Commission of India High Commission of India India House Aldwych London WC2B 4NA
Petition for Mercy: Case # 867-06
I have the honour, as President of The British Horse Society, to write to you to plead the case of Daniel Robinson, the British rider imprisoned in India in October for a visa violation. As Mr Robinson’s appeal is set to be heard on Thursday 1st March, this matter is extremely urgent.
The British Horse Society fully respects the right of the Indian Government, like any other, to protect its citizens by guarding its frontiers and regulating passage across them. Furthermore, the Society would always impress upon riders who wish to embark upon adventurous expeditions, if they hope to receive courtesy, hospitality, assistance and protection wheresoever they travel and from whomsoever they meet, the need to be meticulous in their obedience of all laws and their respect of all local customs.
The British Horse Society notes that, in this instance, Daniel Robinson apparently contravened Indian immigration law and, as a consequence, has been punished.
But however serious the offence, The British Horse Society would urge you to exercise you prerogative of mercy, not because Daniel has a right to expect it but because it would demonstrate the Indian Government’s willingness to accept that the offence was committed because the need which drove Daniel to commit it was overwhelming. Having ridden some 3,000 kilometres, both Daniel and his horses had become very ill. Faced with the very real prospect of death for himself and his horses, Daniel sought aid and protection from the Indian authorities, even though he had no visa which would entitle him to request such aid and protection.
The British Horse Society asks the Indian Government to accept that no disrespect of Indian law was intended, that no harm to the peace and well-being of the Indian people was ever likely to ensue from Daniel’s error in looking to the Indian authorities for humanitarian assistance, and that to prolong his imprisonment would be to continue to punish a man for an offence which was committed wholly without intention to do harm.
In making this urgent request, I would take this opportunity to assure the Indian Government of The British Horse Society’s highest consideration.
Noel Edmonds President of The British Horse Society
Notes for Editors 1. For a description of Daniel Robinson’s expedition along the Tea Horse Caravan Road and his subsequent arrest, see www.thelongridersguild.com/word05.htm. The article, which is written by CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS, the American Founder of The Long Riders’ Guild, is not without criticism of Mr Robinson’s adventure.
2. For further information contact BHS Chief Executive Graham Cory on 01926 707733 or Director of Communications Oliver Wilson on 01926 707738
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