Rudd: Shine The Light But It Won't Overshadow Record

Newcastle Herald

Friday August 8, 2008

By TESS CAMPBELL and AAP

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd believes it's important for world leaders to keep pressing China on human rights but doesn't expect it to have a significant impact.

Mr Rudd arrived in Beijing yesterday for a four-day visit and was expected to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao this morning.

He will attend the Olympic opening ceremony tonight and is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao tomorrow.

He has promised to discuss ongoing concerns about China's human rights record but admits international pressure won't change attitudes developed over centuries.

"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," Mr Rudd said.

A group of Newcastle citizens turned out in Civic Park last night to light a candle in support of the Tibetan struggle for independence.

Social justice campaigner Richard De Martin said the event wasn't to sour the Beijing Olympics, but to raise awareness of the fight to sustain the Tibetan people's distinctive culture, language and identity under Chinese control.

"China is under scrutiny right now and so the Tibetan struggle has hit mainstream awareness," Mr De Martin said.

Mr Rudd, who spoke out against China's handling of Tibet during a visit to Beijing in April, said international opinion had been shown to have some effect on Beijing.

"Since (I raised the question of Tibet) the Chinese have recommenced a form of dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama," he said.

"I don't wish to pretend that any major breakthroughs have been achieved through that at all.

"But it's still important for us all to encourage a peaceful dialogue to produce a better outcome for the people of Tibet and that's what I'll continue to do."

The Prime Minister noted that Chinese authorities had offered some respite on internet censorship after an outcry last week.

"Some changes were made to that (but it's) not a perfect response by any means," Mr Rudd said.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Andrew Robb believes the Olympics has had improved China's handling of human rights.

"The fact of the matter is, pressure from international sources does have an impact," Mr Robb said.

"I do think that a lot of these issues would not have been prominent . . . if it hadn't been for the fact that China was hosting the Games." AAP

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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