Praise on Tibet protest
It’s gratifying that Rod’s Tibet protest is getting praise from people who usually have very little time for the Greens. Yes, some right-wing bloggers and the editorial writers at the Dominion Post have found space to praise yesterday’s protest.
Says the Dominion Post:
There is a fine line between politeness and cravenness, and between good diplomacy and hypocrisy. That is the line which New Zealand must walk in its relationship with China.
The encounter between Tibetan flag-bearing Green Party co-leader Rod Donald and the security guards of National People’s Congress of China chairman Wu Bangguo yesterday underlines just how hard that walk can be.
Mr Donald is right when he says that New Zealand should not, to use his term, kowtow to China over human rights issues. China remains a highly repressive state that locks up those who disagree with the ruling clique’s line, prefers to cover up unpleasant realities such as Sars and HIV, and keeps a People’s Liberation Army boot firmly across the throat of the Tibetan people.
Chinese employers ignore minimum wage requirements, and health and safety measures are not implemented rigorously. Attempts to organise workers outside the single government-controlled trade union are quashed. The fruits of the economic boom have not trickled down to the people of what is nominally a socialist state.
Says NZ Pundit:
Much as this shocks me, I’m on the same page as Rod Donald that “The Chinese Government needs to understand that they are in New Zealand, not Tiananmen Square. We’re a democracy, not a police state.” It’s just a shame that Clark was willing to play nice with this crap to the extent that she did. But kudos where kudos is due to Madame Speaker for not finding a pretext to keep Donald from protesting at all.
Says David Farrar:
Go Rod Go. Well done Rod - I approve.
There was also coverage this morning in all the papers - the Dom, the Herald, and even the Taipei Times, which goes with the headline:
Chinese leader snubs Maoris to avoid lone protester
When Rod and Nandor conducted a similar protest last month when the Indonesian President visited, we heard reports from people in West Papua and Aceh who were filled with pride to see their flags on international television. Hopefully, the Tibetan flag flying in the breeze on the steps of the New Zealand Parliament will have a similar effect.
