As Canada and the US prepare for Chinese leader Hu Jintao's pending visit, a variety of conflicting information is coming out of all three countries.

Paul Martin himself invited Hu to Canada. There is much celebration among businesses big and small, and the Canada China Business Council will be hosting a $400/head dinner with the Chinese leader, which promises to "afford an unparalleled opportunity to highlight your company not only to national leaders but to the most influential gathering of Canadian and Chinese business leaders."

Media reports seem generally positive, highlighting business interests but also making reference to human rights concerns.

And, amazingly enough, just prior to the trip, we are getting reports that "UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour [has] inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang to help China deal with economic, cultural and social rights." For the full story, see China and UN sign deal on human rights amid cautious welcome from activists.

Thankfully, the article notes that, "dissenting voices were being snuffed out by police." Beijing has also recently, for the first time, agreed to have the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture visit the country, at least in principle. What surprises us is that nobody seems to remember that such apparent human rights concessions are par the course in Bejing's diplomacy. Having made what will be touted as a very "proactive" step towards better human rights in China, Hu now has license to neatly sidestep any further discussion of the issue, however meek. We all know, after all, how difficult it is to get Beijing to do anything about human rights.

At the same time, extensive reports of increasing clampdowns on freedom of press, freedom of expression, and freedom of belief within China are have been emerging of late. These clampdowns are corresponding exactly with the ever-rising numbers of people renouncing their membership in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Recently, a 10,000-strong rally urging CCP members to resign was held in Taichung City. Taiwan perhaps stands the most to lose with the CCP maintaining its aggressive stance with regards to freedom there.

And, a recent report from the Falun Dafa Information Centre, Torture and Killing of Falun Gong Continue in China, Hidden Behind Toned-Down Rhetoric, highlights how recent changes, at least when it comes to the situation in China that lies closest to our hearts, are more cosmetic than real.

A letter to the editor that recently found its way to the Vancouver Sun on Wednesday neatly summarizes the issue:

"What with the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong and Christianity, the occupation of Tibet and severe restrictions on freedom of the press -- not to mention supporting other dictatorships such as Zimbabwe and Uzbekistan, threatening war on Taiwan and planting spies in Canada -- it's glaringly obvious that China's policies leave much to be desired."

It is high time for our leaders to speak out openly and plainly to stop the litany of abuses happening in China today. Leading the CCP, the military, and the country, Hu Jintao can play a role in stopping them -- and we as Canadians, his soon to be hosts, need to encourage him as much as possible.

We encourage anyone interested to urge Paul Martin, the Canadian Prime Minister, to Call on Hu Jintao to End Persecution of Falun Gong in China, Bar Entry of his Accompanying Chinese Officials Who Committed Crimes Against Humanity, and Free All Jailed Practitioners by signing this petition.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 at 11:48 p.m.. You can skip to the end and leave a response.