MEDIA RELEASE
6th June 2007

Stony Silence from Chinese Embassy
Ambassador ignores concerns of New Zealanders

The Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand is indifferent to New Zealand's concerns about Chinese human rights abuses. That is the impression he gave yesterday when Amnesty International presented its "Lion Declaration" to a locked Embassy, ending its launch of the 'Human Rights Reform in China' global campaign to halt appalling human rights violations occurring on a massive scale in China.

Gary Reese, Campaigns Manager for Amnesty International, said: "We went to the Embassy to express our concerns on behalf of the Mayors, Councils, and the thousands of other New Zealanders who have signed the Lion Declaration. By refusing to appear before us, or even to send a representative to meet us, the Ambassador has rejected the concerns of these New Zealanders."

"That the Chinese representative in New Zealand refuses even to acknowledge New Zealanders' concerns about abuses in China, let alone address them, is a serious affront to this country, and an embarrassment to the Chinese government."

Though alarming, the silence from the Chinese Embassy is not unexpected, in light of recent moves by the Chinese government to silence any expression of concern about human rights abuses in China. Amnesty has documented eight incidents where there appears to have been an attempt by Chinese officials to limit freedom of expression in NZ.

"Even in NZ," said Gary Reese, "Chinese authorities have impacted on freedom of expression and freedom of the media. If we cannot ensure that the Chinese government respects freedom of expression in New Zealand, how can we push for freedom of expression in China?"

ENDS