What About Tibet – Premier?

Media Release, 30 August 2007

Greens MLC Giz Watson wants to remind WA Premier, Alan Carpenter, of China's appalling human rights record and its occupation of Tibet.

"I ask the Premier to raise the issue of the lack of human rights when meeting with the Chinese President," said Ms Watson.

"I was invited to a dinner in honour of President Hu but I can't honour the leader of a country that continues to suppress the rights of its people.

These abuses include suppression of the media, imposing arbitrary detention and continuing to use the death sentence and executions for nonviolent crimes – not to mention genocidal policies in Tibet.

Ms Watson said it was regrettable that money was the driving force in the relationship between China and Western Australia.

"I believe the closer Western Australia's ties become with China the greater we have an obligation to speak out, which is what Chinese citizens cannot do. Morally we cannot be silenced by an economic relationship."

Ms Watson said she would be joining the WA Tibetan community in protesting the lack of human rights in China while the President was in Perth.