Greens’ Christine Milne issues human rights plea to Xi Jinping
The Australian Business Review, 17 November 2014
Greens leader Christine Milne hands a letter to China President Xi Jinping in the House of Representatives. Source: Getty Images
By Jared Owens – GREENS leader Christine Milne has hand-delivered a letter to Xi Jinping, urging the Chinese president to protect the human rights of democratic dissidents and ethnic and religious minorities.
The wideranging letter – slipped into Mr Xi’s hand as the pair met on the floor of parliament – also praises Beijing’s efforts on global warming, renewable energy and high-speed rail.
The senator’s letter spruiks Tasmania as a tourist destination for the Chinese leader and urges him to consider basing his country’s Antarctic division in her home city, Hobart.
Raising concern about the communist government’s human rights record, Senator Milne writes: “In particular I remain concerned about the ongoing persecution of minorities in China, including the Tibetan and Uighur communities, people of the Falun Gong faith and those advocating democracy.
“I encourage you to promote freedom of speech and association and the human rights of all people. I urge you to condemn human rights abuses and to investigate allegations of abuse wherever and whenever they occur.
“I urge you to stand up for freedom of expression through tolerance of those who express dissent in the community and online, accepting that peaceful expression of diverse views is something to be celebrated.
Senator Milne calls for Mr Xi to release from prison Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, jailed for “drafting and co-signing a peaceful statement appealing for political reform”, and end the house arrest of his wife, Liu Xia.
She also urges Mr Xi to respect the democratic protests in Hong Kong and “enable them to independently exercise their right to vote for candidates of their choice”.
“China’s decisions this century will have a profound impact on the ability of the global commons to sustain life on our planet and the capacity of human kind to work together for the common good of all humanity. It is in that spirit that I write.”