Published by: World Tibet Network News Saturday, November 29, 1997

Ottawa Sun November 29, 1997

Prime Minister Jean Chretien claimed a diplomatic coup yesterday in getting China's dictator to co-sponsor a human rights symposium.

But the coup quickly fizzled when President Jiang Zemin refused to acknowledge human rights abuses in Communist China.

With Chretien at his side, Jiang said China is a democracy where free speech flourishes without fear of state reprisal.

"China's citizens enjoy the freedom of assembly, speech and demonstration and protests," he boasted, as demonstrators outside protested slave labor camps, religious persecution and China's subjugation of Tibet.

Jiang added that free speech in China did not include Tiananmen Square in 1989 when the Communist rulers ordered tanks to roll over pro-democracy protesters.

"Freedom of speech is totally different from the ... deliberate attempt to create chaos, endangering the safety of government operations."

Chretien had bragged earlier that Jiang had agreed to co-host a human rights gabfest in Canada in March because of his influence.

"We have been able to engage a (human rights) dialogue with them and we are probably more advanced in that dialogue than any other country," the PM said.

Later, Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy said the multi-nation conference will deal with legal aid and training of judges.

Shouting "shame on China," about three dozen angry demonstrators lined Sussex Dr. outside the prime minister's residence demanding China recognize an independent Taiwan and get out of Tibet.

"Our prime minister speaks more for the business establishment of Canada rather than the people of Canada," said Canada Tibet Committee National president Thubten Samdup.