Sydney Morning Herald: Chinese chided over treatment of dissidents

China's continued detention of dissidents was unacceptable and self-defeating, the Australian Government told a visiting Chinese delegation yesterday.

This was the case whether those being unfairly held were Tibetans, non-violent Muslim nationalists or members of the Falun Gong meditation [group].

The Chinese delegation, led by the Vice-Foreign Minister, Wang Guangya, and including a judge of the Peoples' Supreme Court, was told that the Australian Foreign Affairs Department received more representations on Tibet than any other human rights matter.

The second most complained about issue was treatment of Falun Gong members.

"We would like to see the Chinese respect fundamental human rights in Tibet - freedom of expression and freedom of religion," an official said. "We are concerned that China does more to protect the Tibetan culture and environment."

Australia also called for the release of Tibetans who remained in prison or labour camps "merely because they exercise their fundamental rights".

It was Australia's view that "humane policies" in Tibet were in China's best interests.

The Australian Government's position was that China should enter into serious dialogue with the Dalai Lama on Tibet's status.

And in relation to Falun Gong, Australia believed treatment of practitioners in contravention of China's obligations under international human rights agreements was "unacceptable and counter-productive".

Also at yesterday's talks, the Federal Government representatives re-stated their 'in-principle' opposition to the use of capital punishment for an increasing number of offences, such as some property crimes. [..]