Security issues cited as uni bans activist's visit

Uighur human rights activist Rebiya Kadeer has been issued a visa to come to New Zealand, but Auckland University - where she is to hold her first public meeting next week - says it doesn't want her there.

In a letter to Greens on Campus, registrar Tim Greville cited "security issues" as a reason for cancelling the booking.

"Whilst we respect the right of the people to advance their views, I was not consulted on the security issues for the speaker or the audience as required by university policy and procedures," Mr Greville wrote.

"The university therefore cannot be expected to take the responsibility and costs on board.

"The university is not in a position to provide the appropriate levels of support and security for the range of people expected to attend this meeting," Mr Greville added.

China considers Ms Kadeer a "terrorist" and local Chinese protesters are expected to be at her public meeting venues in Auckland and Wellington.

She was jailed for six years for speaking out on what she saw as human rights violations and discrimination against Uighur people in Xinjiang, the mainly Muslim province of 20 million Uighur people in western China.

Green MP Keith Locke, who will host Ms Kadeer in New Zealand, said he didn't believe the cancellation had anything to do with security, but was because of the university's fear of offending the Chinese Government.

Mr Locke said he had tried calling Mr Greville to discuss security concerns, but had received an email from the university's communications manager, Gabriella Davila, saying: "The registrar is not prepared to discuss the matter further."

Beijing has put pressure on Australia and Taiwan not to grant Ms Kadeer a visa, but Prime Minister John Key said on Monday that he had not received any request from the Chinese Government to stop New Zealand giving her a visa.

A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman confirmed yesterday that she had been issued one for her tour.

Ms Kadeer will be in New Zealand from October 12-15.

She will speak at two public meetings in Auckland and Wellington and visit Parliament and MPs.

Her Auckland meeting will now be in the Pioneer Women's and Ellen Melville Hall on the corner of High St and Freyberg Place at 7.30pm on Tuesday.