Protests everywhere on Chinese Premier's visit

Green MPs (from left) Sue Kedgley, Jeanette Fitzsimons and Keith Locke hold a Tibetan flag at Parliament yesterday. Marty Melville / Getty Images

As Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao departed a state luncheon at Parliament yesterday, over on a corner of the lawn a ceremony was taking place to mark deaf signing becoming an official New Zealand language.

The deaf people were unaware of the racket right behind them, as protesters calling for freedom for Tibet and the end of oppression of Falun Gong devotees verbally clashed with flag-waving supporters of Mr Wen.

The premier may well have wished he could turn a deaf ear to the small but determined band of protesters who dogged his every step on his visit to Wellington. At every function they were meditating, chanting and waving placards accusing Mr Wen and his Government of running their equivalent of the Auschwitz death camp.

However, their unhindered and generally unobtrusive presence was in contrast to previous visits to New Zealand by Chinese dignitaries, when groups protesting at Chinese human rights abuses have been blocked from making their point to visiting leaders.

The late Green MP Rod Donald caused a minor sensation when he held up a Tibetan flag on the steps of Parliament last year during the visit of the chairman of the National People's Congress, Wu Bangguo.

Yesterday three Green MPs, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Sue Kedgley and Keith Locke, stood almost unremarked beside Mr Wen's car when he arrived at Parliament in the morning, holding a large Tibetan flag between them.

Although a symbolic protest, the Green MPs' presence was a mute reminder to Mr Wen that the topic of human rights would be on the day's agenda. Prime Minister Helen Clark raised the subject during a meeting between the two leaders, and the first question at their subsequent joint press conference was on human rights.

Mr Wen replied that his country's economic reforms would help people attain their entitlement to happiness and freedom. People now had access to information and rights to choose their jobs and travel which they did not have a few years ago.

"This does not mean that we believe we have been perfect with regards to our human rights record and we have our shortcomings," Mr Wen said.

"In the process of advancing our economic restructuring China has also been working to promote political systems reform and reform of our cultural and social management systems."

Later in Parliament, the Greens pressed the Government on what human rights issues Helen Clark had raised with Mr Wen during their meeting, with Ms Kedgley asking why the Government would not publicly call on China to hold talks with the Dalai Lama on the future of Tibet.

Answering for the Prime Minister, Michael Cullen said the matter of Tibet had been raised many times with China by the Minister of Foreign of Affairs. "We do note that some progress has been made by the Chinese in the civil rights area compared with, say, 25 years ago."

That progress was not fast enough for the protesters, who as Dr Cullen spoke were packing up their placards and heading for Premier House - where Mr Wen would be dining.