MEDIA RELEASE 17 July 2007

Rally Highlights Chinese Abuses

Labour, health problems a sign of things to come

Recent revelations about health and labour problems in China are likely to be followed by similar reports in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Amnesty International said today. A march and rally, to be held in Wellington on Thursday, will give New Zealanders a chance to speak out on the human rights abuses that lie behind these revelations.

Last week reports emerged that China had executed the former head of its food and drug watchdog after a series of food and drug scandals. Investigators have also uncovered cases of brutal slavery in Chinese brick-kiln factories. And these reports follow on from allegations by international trade unions of serious labour abuses in factories producing Olympic licensed products.

Amnesty International predicts that many more cases of human rights abuses will be revealed in the near future. Amnesty International's Campaign Manager Gary Reese said: "It is very likely that similar abuses will be uncovered in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympic Games, as increasing numbers of foreign journalists move into China."

"Recent reports of labour and health abuses in China are alarming, but they are not surprising. Without a commitment to human rights, free civil society and an independent judicial system, it is easy for poor labour and health standards to flourish."

Amnesty International urged the New Zealand government to take a firm stance against Chinese human rights abuses. "Recently there have been indications that the New Zealand government has been willing to put trade and economic interests before basic human rights. The result is that Chinese authorities have been limiting freedom of expression and freedom of the media in New Zealand."

Amnesty International, the Green Party, Friends of Tibet, and Falun Gong, have organised a march to highlight their concerns. Gary Reese said: "The march and rally this Thursday is an opportunity for the public to speak out against unethical tradeoffs with China, and against the appalling abuses that continue in China on a large scale."

Thursday July 19th Midday: Motorcade & March from Civic Square to Parliament

1.00pm: Rally at Parliament Grounds -Speakers -Music -Action

Resources available from Amnesty International: 1. Examples of local and national government in New Zealand giving in to pressure from Chinese authorities. 2. Amnesty International Report, issued on 30th April, examining Chinese abuses in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 3. More information available from www.amnesty.org.nz (follow the links).

ENDS

© Scoop Media