Human Rights On Opening Agenda

The Age

Friday August 8, 2008

Mary-Anne Toy, China Correspondent, Beijing, With Michelle Grattan

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday raised the Olympic and then the Australian flag in the Athletes Village in Beijing as expectations grew over how he would tackle the human rights issue - especially after US President George Bush delivered a reprimand to China.

In a speech delivered in Thailand's capital before his controversial attendance at the Beijing Olympics, Mr Bush voiced America's "deep concerns" over religious freedom and human rights in the world's most populous country while praising China for the enormous strides it has made in the past 30 years.

"We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly and labour rights, not to antagonise China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential," Mr Bush told Thai officials and business leaders.

"And we press for openness and justice not to impose our beliefs, but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs. America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human-rights advocates and religious activists."

Before leaving Australia, Mr Rudd said it was the responsibility of the international community "to speak with a strong united voice" to China on human rights questions.

It also had to recognise that "over time some progress has been made in China".

"Remember it was not all that long ago they were in the middle of the Cultural Revolution where people were being put up against a wall and basically knocked off," he said.

Mr Rudd pointed out that under pressure China last week eased restrictions on internet access. "Let's not overstate it. You're not going to turn the events of centuries around in the matter of a few days."

Analysts and human rights groups were sceptical that Mr Bush's remarks, made hours before he leaves for Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Games, would offset the symbolism of being the first US president to attend an Olympics abroad. Democrats and Republicans in Congress, as well as human rights groups, have criticised Mr Bush's attendance, which they say legitimises the ruling Communist Party's pre-Games crackdown on dissidents and freedom of speech advocates.

Nicholas Becquelin, of Human Rights Watch, said it was "unconscionable" for world leaders attending the Olympics to remain silent about human rights abuses in China.

Mr Becquelin said Mr Rudd, who spoke frankly about Tibet and other human rights issues during an April visit to Beijing, including a speech to Peking University students, disproved the theory that governments jeopardised their relationships with China by speaking up. China's leaders are unexpectedly giving Mr Rudd bilateral meetings during his four-day Olympic trip.

Mr Rudd meets Premier Wen Jiabao today and President Hu Jintao for talks tomorrow.

"Your Prime Minister did it very well last time with his speech (at Peking University). What he did gives the lie to the idea that you cannot give constructive criticism to China. There is this middle way between staying silent and offending your host," Mr Becquelin said.

Actress activist Mia Farrow, a critic of Chinese foreign policy, especially its support for the Sudan Government's complicity in atrocities in its Darfur region, yesterday applauded the decision of US athletes to choose a Sudanese refugee to be flag-bearer at tonight's opening ceremony. -- With MICHELLE GRATTAN

© 2008 The Age

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