[Greens-Media] Bob Brown - Smith should meet with Uighur Leader Kadeer: Brown

[Kelly, Russell (Sen B. Brown)]

11 August 2009

Smith should meet with Uighur Leader Kadeer: Brown

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown says Foreign Minister Stephen
Smith should meet with the President of the World Uighur Congress, Ms
Rebiya Kadeer, during her visit to Canberra today.

Senator Brown, who today hosted a screening of the documentary about Ms
Kadeer's life The 10 Conditions of Love in Parliament House this
morning, said Ms Kadeer's fight for autonomy for her homeland of East
Turkistan was one deserving of international recognition and respect.

"It is fine that Minister Smith on ABC Radio should defend the request
by the Chinese Government to ban Ms Kadeer from speaking at the National
Press Club today, but it should be balanced by the Minister meeting the
Uighur leader."

"Mr Smith also should reveal what pressure Beijing has placed on him,"
Senator Brown said. 

"The film reveals that it is 10 years to the day since Ms Kadeer was
arrested by the Chinese Government for sending newspaper clippings to
her husband who was then exiled in the United States."

"What followed was six years of imprisonment, including two years in
solitary confinement. Two of her children remain imprisoned by the
Chinese Government."

For more information Russell Kelly 0438376082 ends