[Mr. Ed Broadbent, President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development based in Montreal is also the former leader of New Democratic Party of Canada. TS]

MONTREAL - October 13, 1995 -- The President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, Ed Broadbent, has invited the Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng to take advantage of his visit to Canada to judge firsthand the level of freedom enjoyed by Canadians. "Prime Minister Li should seize the opportunity to discuss the advantages of democratic freedoms in Canada with his counterpart, the Right Honorable Jean Chretien, and the provincial premiers," said Mr. Broadbent.

Mr. Broadbent thinks the talks between Mr. Li and Prime Minister Chretien should not be limited to trade. "Rather than limiting their talks exclusively to trade, I would invite Mr. Li and Mr. Chretien to broaden their conversation and also consider the question of human rights, a matter of considerable discussion in Beijing only a few weeks ago. I know Prime Minister Chretien would be glad to show to Mr. Li that a population with many freedoms is also likely to be happier and more productive. This, of course, has been recognized by the high comparative standing the United Nations has recently accorded our country."

"Mr. Li might even agree that since China opened its door to international trade, the rights of the Chinese people have gone in reverse. The growth in trade advocated by the Chinese government has not been accompanied by a general increase in the rights of the citizens of this beautiful country. Quite the contrary. Some Canadians are ignorant of this: they actually believe economic development automatically brings freedom. Mr. Li could point out that China has had a remarkable economic growth without human rights. He might even add that this would not be the first such case in history. After all, the economically most prosperous country in Europe in 1938 was Germany," added Mr. Broadbent.

"I believe that China could import much more from Canada than just its wheat, its expertise in the field of hydroelectricity, electrical machinery, pulp and paper or lumber. For instance, China could also import the right to freedom of expression enjoyed by all Canadians. In this way, each Chinese citizen should have the right to freely express his or her opinions and to criticize the position of the government, such as is guaranteed in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

The President of the International Centre hopes that during their conversation "Prime Minister Chretien will point out to Mr. Li that Canadian workers in most manufacturing sectors have reasonably good working conditions, due, among other things, to their right to form independent unions. One way to improve workers" rights in China would be to allow them this right of association, a right incidentally which is found both in the Covenant on Political and Civil Rights as well as in the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights."

... Mr. Broadbent also expects the two men to talk about Tiananmen Square. "Mr. Li played a central part in this dramatic event. On May 19 1989, a few days prior to ordering the massacre of the peaceful demonstrators, he said:

"chaos has descended on Beijing and the government will take steps to put an end to it." The next day, the prime minister declared martial law and issued the order for the massacre of several hundred women and men whose peaceful demands were only for greater democracy."

"Since Mr. Li made his decision" not to stand still and do nothing, "hundreds of dissidents have been imprisoned for having dared to criticize their government policies. More recently, over 30,000 people attending the Fourth World Conference in Beijing were subjected to serious restrictions on their liberty, despite the fact that China was merely the host of this U.N. Conference. Furthermore, the human rights advocate Harry Wu was imprisoned for having exposed the world to the fact that China forces thousands of people to produce export goods in labour camps. On a personal note, I was invited to Beijing University to exchange views on freedom. However, when I arrived at the entrance, at the appointed time, I was told the location for the talk had been moved from the campus to a professor's home."

Finally, the President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development hopes Mr. Li's visit will help improve the situation of human rights in China. "Like the majority of Canadians, and, certainly of Chinese, I believe that limiting freedoms, imprisoning dissidents, and forcing people to work against their will does not constitute the best way to ensure human development. Rather, I believe the Chinese government should grant its fellow citizens greater rights and freedoms at the same rate at which it is seeking to multiply commercial exchanges with Western countries. Without suggesting that Canadian democratic institutions could be simply exported to China as is, surely it is the wish of all Canadians that the Chinese be able to enjoy the same fundamental and universal values of freedom of expression, the right of association and freedom of worship. All of these are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All are worth talking about with Premier Li."