Calgary Sun - Thursday, May 9, 1996, by Bill Kaufmann

A Chinese general brushed off concerns over his country's record on military and human rights abuses as protesters picked oustside a meeting last night.

About 100 demonstrators protested against 37 years of Chinese occupation of Tibet outside the Calgary Convention Centre where Maj.-Gen. Pan Zhenqiang spoke to 330 people at a fund-raiser for the Museum of the Regiments.

"People are suffering in Tibet while he's being wined and dined," said protestor Nima Dorjee.

But Pan said that the demonstrators advocate Western interference in Chinese affairs.

"Tibet is a part of China - everyone knows it, and Canada knows it," said Pan. "I hope these kinds of distortions in the media will end."

2. - Protest greets Chinese general

CALGARY HERALD - Thursday, May 9, 1996, Eva Ferguson

More than 100 angry anti-communist demonstrators lined the front of the Calgary Convention Centre Wednesday night, enraged by local support of a speaking tour by a Chinese army general.

"This man represents one of the most brutal regimes in the world. And he's getting a warm welcome here?" said Nima Dorjee, a spokesman for the Canada Tibet Committee and the Tibetan Community of Alberta.

"We don't believe elected officials should attend these functions to legitimize a regime that still exists in China today and still continues to occupy Tibet ...

"And how can the military be here, when Canada has a long history of defending people?"

Maj.-Gen. Pan Zhenqiang drew the welcome of several Calgary businesses, cultural organizations, and the University of Calgry at the $90-a-plate dinner.

The event was held to raise funds for the local military. But George Milne, organizer of the Pan's 10-day visit to Western Canada - a first-ever Western speaking tour - argued that Wednesday's engagement will only be a learning experience for Canada, as well as China.

"You're not going to change anything without a dialoque, you have to start somewhere and the starting point is here tonight for the first time ever."

Milne met with Dorjee over his concerns earlier Wednesday and agreed to give Pan, a director of the People's Liberation Army's National Defence University, a letter outlining the groups' conserns.

"It was well-put, quite inoffensive ... and I explained to the general people here have a right to democratic expression."

Mayor Al Duerr, in attendance Wednesday night with his wife Kit Chan, agreed with Milne adding that any positive relations locally with China could only work towards improved human rights there.

"I don't think anyone will change China tomorrow. "But isolation has never resolved anything," said Duerr.