[Greens-Media] Rudd pursues free trade agreement at expense of human rights

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Friday, 8 August 2008

Rudd pursues free trade agreement at expense of human rights

Prime Minister Rudd's agreement, with President Hu Jintao, to 'pursue'
human rights in China, religious freedom, Tibet and internet freedom
will come a very big second to their mutual pursuit of a Free Trade
Agreement, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Just as his earlier idea of a breakthrough in the pursuit of Tibet's
freedom has failed in the run to the Beijing Olympics, so putting off
discussions on human rights to a meeting later this year at which
neither leader will be present, is a triumph for President Hu and a flop
for Prime Minister Rudd," Senator Browns said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603