【ABC】Smith defends China over Kadeer gag bid

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Smith defends China over Kadeer gag bid
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/11/2652282.htm


Posted 8 hours 56 minutes ago
Updated 8 hours 8 minutes ago


Speech: Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says Chineseofficials were entitled to ask the National Press Club to canceltoday's speech by exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer.

Ms Kadeer will address the National Press Club from 12:30pm AESTtoday in a speech which will also be streamed live on ABC News Online.

The Chinese Government tried to stop Ms Kadeer's visit to Australiaand the Press Club says it met with Chinese officials who tried toexplain why Ms Kadeer was "not credible".

China has accused Ms Kadeer of instigating ethnic riots in the country's west.

The Greens say the Government should rebuke the Chinese for tryingto block Ms Kadeer's speech and for their earlier attempts to preventthe screening of a film about her life at the Melbourne film festival.

But Mr Smith says there is nothing wrong with diplomats expressing their concerns.

"Embassies, diplomats, officials are entitled to put views inAustralian society, but when they put those views, those views have tobe put appropriately," Mr Smith said.

"They can be put firmly, but they need to be put politely and appropriately."

But Greens leader Bob Brown says the Government should not allow a foreign country to try to suppress free speech in Australia.

"We need to have our Australian Government standing up for thedemocratic rights and freedoms that we hold dearly in Australia and notbeing cowed by the Chinese authorities," Senator Brown said.

The National Press Club says it did not feel under pressure from the Chinese Government  to cancel Ms Kadeer's address.

The club's chief executive, Maurice Reilly, says a Chinese officialmet the club's board last week to set out his government's oppositionto Ms Kadeer's speech.

Mr Reilly says the club listened respectfully but decided to proceed with the address.

"The Press Club and the board have a longstanding policy of 40 yearsor more that they decide who speaks at the Press Club, and they'requite free of outside influences, although we respect people's opinionsabout the diversity of opinions that we put up," Mr Reilly said.

Ms Kadeer has met several MPs from all political parties while in Canberra.