Greens welcome Xi, but human rights need to be on agenda

The Green Party welcomes the visit to New Zealand of Chinese President Xi Jinping and wishes to congratulate him on his recent announcement regarding China capping emissions for the first time.

The United States and China recently unveiled a deal to reduce their greenhouse gas output, with China agreeing to cap emissions. While the Green Party welcomes the Chinese government’s moves on climate change, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Normanwill meet the Tibetan community to discuss their concerns over the situation in Tibet and human rights abuses in China.

“President Xi has made some progress on climate change, but he must also lift the Chinese government’s game on human rights issues,” Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

“It is important that our Government continues to urge the Chinese government to show restraint and respect human rights in both Tibet and the Xinjiang province.

“The Chinese government is guilty of policies that have displaced and marginalised the ethnic populations of both these provinces,” said Dr Norman.

“The Tibetan and Uighur people have been subject to religious cultural and language restrictions which have marginalised both communities.

“A good first step for the Chinese government would be to pull back from some of their recent hard-line rhetoric around the Dalai Lama.

“The Chinese government also needs to respect those protestors taking a stand for democracy in Hong Kong and ensure that any elections in this territory are free and fair.

“President Xi and the China’s leaders must not stack the odds in favour of those that support Beijing unreservedly.

“The Chinese government guaranteed Hong Kong democratic freedoms and must respect the undertakings it made to ensure this, rather than undermining Hong Kong’s democracy.

“The New Zealand Government also needs to raise other human rights issues while President Xi is in New Zealand,” Dr Norman said.

“John Key should follow the lead of United States President Barack Obama and push for the release of 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who has been imprisoned since December 2008.

“The ‘crime’ Liu Xiaobo is guilty of is publishing a manifesto signed by hundreds of Chinese intellectuals and activists petitioning Beijing for democracy.

“Liu Xiaobo has now spent over six years in custody for pushing human rights and democracy. It is important John Key and our government support the work of other countries in pushing for his release.

“China is a superpower that is making progress in many areas. It is vital that while our Government does not overlook human rights in its push to advance trade,” said Dr Norman.

Additional information: Russel Norman to meet Tibetan community leaders

What: Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman to meet Tibetan community leaders and monks

Where: 18 Valhalla Drive, Beach Haven, Auckland

When: 11am, Wednesday 19 November 2014

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