Dissident Slams NZ Govt's Relationship With China Wednesday, 18 July 2007, 5:10 pm Article: Kelly Smith

By Kelly Smith – Images Kevin List Click for big version Green Party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons and Chinese dissident Yonglin Chen *******

Today dissident and former Chinese diplomat Mr Yonglin Chen visited the New Zealand parliament and spoke at a press conference organised by the Green Party regarding Chinese human rights abuses.

One of the more intense moments of the conference occurred when Mr Chen alleged that the Chinese government had abducted a permanent resident of New Zealand who was originally from China. Chen had not revealed details to the New Zealand police or government, but says he would share whatever information he had if asked.

Click for big version Green Party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, Yonglin Chen and Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Keith Locke *******

According to Chen, the New Zealand government is favoured by the Chinese government because of its cooperation and demonstrated lack of interest in human rights issues. Chen believes that due to the prospect of economic gain, unprecedented human rights violations have gone unnoticed such as the death of 300,000 people in the Henan province who died because of tainted blood sold though the black market.

Chen said that although there is up to 1,000 spies in Australia, there is only a small number in New Zealand such as informants and a number of professional agents. Because of its small size, the Chinese government is more interested in campaigning against dissidents and influencing the Chinese population in New Zealand through propaganda.

However, Chen did have some positive news about the changing mindset of the Chinese: “This government is collapsing not because of economic growth, but because of a deep sociological process in China”