KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark lent her name to a campaign aimed at pressuring China to improve its human rights record in the lead up to next month's Olympic Games, says Amnesty International.
Yesterday the group tried to present four "Olympic legacy banners", each highlighting a key human rights concern, to the Chinese Embassy in Wellington.
Spokeswoman Margaret Taylor said thousands of people had signed and written messages on the banners, including Helen Clark.
They raised concerns about the death penalty and arbitrary detention and called for the release of human rights activists.
Helen Clark has raised human rights issues in talks with Chinese leaders over the past few years, but she does not usually take part in activist campaigns aimed at pressuring specific governments.
Ms Taylor said the PM had signed the banner at a function at Auckland Girls' Grammar. Helen Clark wrote: "My wish is that all nations stop executions."
Chinese officials yesterday refused to take the banners.
Ms Taylor said: "Signatures from high school students through to the Prime Minister are visible evidence that New Zealanders are not only seeking sporting wins but human rights victories from the Olympics."
A spokesman for the Prime Minister confirmed Helen Clark had written the message on the banner.
But she said: "Her comment is directed in line with New Zealand Government policy at all nations which carry out executions. So it's not specific to China."
- NZPA
