Published by: World Tibet Network News, Thursday, Apr 18, 1996

Karen Gram

VANCOUVER, Saturday, 20 Apr. 96 (Vancouver Sun)

About two dozen people concerned about China's treatment of Tibet chanted and carried protest placards outside a dinner for the second-highest ranking leader of China's Communist party Friday.

The dinner for Qiao Shi, chair of China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, was hosted by Canada's Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific Raymond Chan.

The demonstrators, protesting against what they called China's brutal human rights violations against Tibetans, were watched by about a dozen RCMP security officers.

As he arrived at the restaurant, Chan shook hands with a few of the protesters. He said he had raised Canada's concerns about Tibet with Qiao. When Qiao arrived, surrounded by RCMP and Chinese security, he entered without incident.

Deke Samchok, a Tibetan-Canadian and a member of the Canada Tibet Committee that organized the protest, said Canada's treatment of Qiao is an outrage.

"For him to be received with full honor - the red carpet treatment - really hurts."

"He is nothing more than a murderer."

Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and Premier Glen Clark met with Qiao earlier this week. In Regina Thursday, Qiao was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Regina.

"I just can't accept that," said Samchok. "This kind of treatment has never been awarded to the Dalai Lama, someone who has always followed a non-violent path."

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his commitment to a peaceful settlement to the crisis in Tibet.

Clark could not be reached for comment, but in a press release, Chan said Qiao was working for judicial and political reform in China.

"As chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress, Qiao Shi has been instrumental in emphasizing the importance of good government and the reform of the judicial system to China's modernization."

As China's security chief in 1988, Qiao visited Tibet and in a widely reported speech, announced Beijing's change in policy toward Tibet from "lenient to severe." He called for "merciless repression" of all forms of protest against Chinese rule in Tibet.