[Greens-Media] Pro-Beijing protestors must not break the law - Brown

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Wednesday, 16 April 2008

Pro-Beijing protestors must not break the law - Brown

Pro-Beijing protestors going to Canberra for the Olympic torch relay
should reflect on which country they are in, Greens Leader Bob Brown
said today.

Senator Brown has called on the organisers to explain what they mean by
arranging "strong men" to protect the torch (see pg 1, today's Sydney
Morning Herald). 

"If there were busloads of Tibetans heading from Lhasa to Beijing to
protest about the military occupation of their country they would go
straight to jail," Senator Brown said.

"But the busloads of pro-Beijing people going from Sydney and Melbourne
to Canberra next Thursday are in a free country-in stark contrast to the
Chinese communist dictatorship. Their protests should be peaceful and
they should reflect on the freedoms we all enjoy in this country as they
pursue the vilification of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans seeking
freedom and democracy in their own land," Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown has been asked by Tibetan communities to address a rally
on Thursday, 24th April.

Senator Brown is available for comment in Sydney today.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603




------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185	

Visit Bob's new myspace site at:
www.myspace.com/bobbrowngreens