Chinese community leaders split on Dalai Lama's planned visit to NZ

A news media report about a Chinese community bid to have New Zealand block a visa for the Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama has stirred controversy. Critics condemn what the see as a derogatory attack.

By Christopher Adams: Pacific Media Centre

Chinese community leaders are split over the planned visit by the Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama to visit New Zealand at the end of the year and some want the trip called off.

Several leaders are also annoyed with some media coverage, including a New Zealand Herald story last month that revealed the United Chinese Association of Auckland was planning to send a protest letter to the Government asking for the Dalai Lama to be refused a visa.

Steven Wong, president of the UCA, was quoted in the Herald story as saying: “The Dalai Lama is just a stirrer and everywhere he goes, he spreads lies and destroys relationships.”

Wong, who migrated from the Canton region of China to New Zealand in 1975, is disappointed with the story, and claims the reporter who wrote it, Lincoln Tan, misquoted him.

“I never said he [the Dalai Lama] spreads lies,” he says. “How can I say he is a liar? If I said that he could sue me.”

Tan maintains that Steven Wong made the statement, and believes he is now denying the comments because, in retrospect, he regrets them.

“He definitely said it,” says Tan.

But Wong, although he denies making the statement quoted by Tan, does believe the Dalai Lama’s visit will be detrimental to the bonds between the New Zealand and Chinese Governments.

According to a statement given by a National Party spokesman to the New Zealand Herald, a meeting between Prime Minister John Key and the Dalai Lama may take place during the religious leader’s visit to New Zealand in December.

Such a meeting would resume New Zealand’s official relations with the exiled Tibetan, after Helen Clark refused to meet him on previous visits.

Affect relationship
“If the Dalai Lama comes and meets John Key it will affect the relationship between New Zealand and China,” says Wong.

Wong warns that the same could happen in New Zealand as in France last December, when a meeting between French President Nicholas Sarkozy and the spiritual leader incensed the Chinese government.

The meeting resulted in Beijing scrapping an EU-China summit that France was set to host.

The business relationship that exists between New Zealand and China, especially the Free Trade Agreement signed in April 2008, is beneficial for both countries, says Wong.

But he adds that he is not concerned about the Dalai Lama’s visit because of his own business interests, as the potato chip factory he owns in East Tamaki is not currently exporting its products to China.

“Most Chinese migrants don’t want the Dalai Lama to come,” says Wong.

Thuten Kesang, chairman of the New Zealand Friends of Tibet organisation, is also unhappy with the Herald story, which Lincoln Tan also interviewed him for.

“My personal belief [about the story] is that Lincoln Tan should have reported more deeply,” says Kesang. “Lincoln should have backed up Steven Wong’s comments about his holiness [the Dalai Lama].

He says asking the government to not to issue a visa is fine, but being derogatory about the spiritual leader is not.

Kesang, who was born in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, says Steven Wong should have known better than to make the comments.

“He is living in a democracy – it’s not China,” he says.

Negative stance
Kesang believes it is the business interests of people involved with the United Chinese Association that has lead them to take a negative stance against the Dalai Lama.

“The United Chinese Association would be Chinese migrants from mainland China who are heavily involved in the import/export business. Therefore, they feel they need to be the mouthpiece of the Chinese government in order to get favours and good business relations with China.”

The Chinese Communist Party is currently placing a lot of emphasis on the Dalai Lama’s travel plans, says Kesang.

Kesang adds that the Chinese government had its first success recently when the South African government refused the Dalai Lama a visa to visit the country and speak.

“I think countries shouldn’t get away with this,” says Kesang. “Trade is fine, but China doesn’t have the right to dictate what other countries do. No country should trade human rights for economics.”

However, Kesang is certain the New Zealand government will never refuse the Dalai Lama a visa to visit the country.

“I am 100 percent sure the New Zealand government won’t refuse a Nobel Laureate a visa,” he says. “New Zealanders love their freedom too much to be dictated to.”

Kesang is pleased with the prospect of the Dalai Lama having a meeting with John Key during his visit.

Both of Kesang’s parents died as a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, he says.

“My father died in Chinese prison and my mother of starvation.”

Contrasting view
Jim He, secretary-general of the United Chinese Association, has a different stance to Wong over the Dalai Lama’s visit.

“In my opinion, the Dalai Lama can come, but his trip is just to emphasise his own views on the Tibet issue.”

But he adds that, as a group, the UCA doesn’t support the Tibetan religious leader.

“We think of China as one country and Tibet has been a part of China since hundreds of years ago.” he says. “The Dalai Lama just spreads propaganda.”

He, who is originally from Beijing and came to New Zealand in 1988, believes the Chinese occupation has been positive for Tibet.

“Look at the current economy,” says He. “The central government has injected billions of dollars into Tibet.”

Simon Harrison, secretary of the Dalai Lama Visit Trust, was disturbed by Wong’s comments reported in the Herald story.

“The comments that were made were outrageous, particularly about the Dalai Lama,” says Harrison.

“We have no problem recognising trade relations, but it [the Dalai Lama’s visit] is just the result of an invitation by the New Zealand people.”

Harrison adds that Chinese nationals are often keen to uphold the line their government takes on issues such as Tibet, especially when they find themselves living outside China.

Propaganda line
Referring to the commonly held Chinese belief that Tibet has always been a part of their country, he says: “The propaganda in that line is often false, historically. I would be happy to engage in discussions with these groups in order to clear up some of the historical confusions.”

Harrison hopes that a meeting will take place between the Dalai Lama and the Prime Minister during his New Zealand visit.

“It is very important that some kind of symbolic gesture is made,” he says.

The Dalia Lama is scheduled to speak at Auckland’s Vector Arena on December 6.

Christopher Adams is a Graduate Diploma in Journalism student on the Asia-Pacific Journalism course at AUT University. Credit: The photo of the Dalai Lama is from the Australian National University.

Chinese seek to ban Dalai Lama from NZ

Let trapped Tamil civilians go free, says aid worker

Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for a separate Tamil state since 1983. Thousands of Tamil civilians remain inside their last remaining stronghold, where fresh water, food and medical facilities are in short supply.

By Christopher Adams: Pacific Media Centre

An aid worker who has returned to New Zealand after three years of relief work in embattled Sri Lanka has called on the Tamil rebels fighting desperately against government troops to let thousands of trapped civilians go free.

Ian McInnes worked in Sri Lanka as country director for US-based charity organisation World Concern.

He has now taken on the role of Sri Lanka spokesperson for Tear Fund, an aid organisation that has its New Zealand headquarters in Auckland.

Since January, Sri Lanka’s civil war has continued to rage as the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) have been pushed back by government forces to occupy only a tiny strip of land in the north-east of the island.

Previously, the LTTE controlled large swathes of the north and east of Sri Lanka.

The rebels have been fighting for a separate Tamil state since 1983.

Thousands of Tamil civilians remain inside the Tamil Tigers’ last remaining stronghold, where basic needs such as fresh water, food and medical facilities are in short supply.

McInnes has been worked near the frontlines of the conflict, coordinating World Concern’s efforts to assist refugees arriving from the rebel- held areas.

“We were working in hospitals immediately outside the warzone,” he says.

World Concern worked with 10,000 refugees, providing them with food, sanitary care and clothing, he says.

“Two-thirds of the refugees were injured from gunfire and shelling,” McInnes adds.

“The UN estimates 6500 people have been killed and 14,000 injured since January.”

'Shoot to kill'
After dealing with thousands of Tamil refugees emerging from the warzone, McInnes firmly believes the LTTE will “shoot to kill” people who try to leave their territory.

The most urgent need in the current situation is that the estimated 50,000 refugees are allowed to come out of the Tamil-held areas, says McInnes.

“The Tigers need to let them go, preferably before they get shelled.”

But McInnes does not think that the Sri Lankan Government has been blameless in the current conflict.

“There is an arrogance about the current government that needs to disappear,” he says.

“The Sri Lankan government needs to finish this thing as cautiously as it can if it doesn’t want to be responsible for a massacre.”

In a recent United Nations press release, top UN humanitarian official John Holmes accused the LTTE of holding Tamil civilians against their will. Holmes also expressed concern over reports that the Sri Lankan military’s shelling was continuing to put civilians at risk.

New Zealand Tamil Youth Association spokesperson Nirupa George doesn’t believe there have been any human rights violations committed by the LTTE during the recent fighting.

“The LTTE are the representatives of the Tamil people,” she says.

“We don’t believe there are human rights abuses being committed by the LTTE.”

Safety zone
George says members of Auckland’s Tamil community have been in contact with people inside the safety zone who have reported the situation there is dire.

She blames the government forces for the humanitarian disaster that is unfolding in northern Sri Lanka.

“There are no medical supplies, and only a makeshift hospital. Bodies are lying in the streets and there is no food.”

Whatever happens in the near future will not be the end of the war, she says.

“The solution is a separate state and self-determination for the Tamil people.”

Upali Manukulasuriya, a spokesperson for the anti-LTTE United Sri Lanka Association, believes the war between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government is nearing its end.

“The end of the war will be sooner rather than later,” says Manukulasuriya.

He says that when the conflict ends, the money saved from not fighting the war should be used to rebuild the country.

“I think the war gobbled a lot of time, money and energy. The north and east [areas previously occupied by the LTTE] need the most money invested.”

Manukulasuriya says the LTTE have been holding Tamil civilians against their will, and using them as a human shield during the current conflict.

'Human shield'
“At the moment the worst human rights abuse is using people as a human shield,” he says.

“They [the LTTE] are supposed to be the saviours of the Tamil people.”

Manukulasuriya adds that the LTTE should surrender now, and allow the civilians inside their territory to “escape”.

He says rebuilding the country will be “a huge task”.

But Manukulasuriya adds: “Sri Lanka will come together, there’s already a million Tamil people in Colombo. ”

Two weeks ago, members of Auckland’s Tamil community set up camp in Aotea Square to protest against the Sri Lankan government’s conduct during the recent conflict.

The demonstrators collected signatures for a petition they will send to Wellington, asking the New Zealand government to place pressure on the UN regarding the conflict, says protester Viji Ratnavel.

“It’s just not right – we are angered that the Sri Lankan government is not stopping the war,” says Ratnavel.

Another Tamil protester, Pathmanathan Kandiah, staged a hunger strike during the demonstration.

Viji Ratnavel says Kandiah finished his hunger strike when the protesters received news that Foreign Minister Murry McCully had issued a statement calling for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

Christopher Adams is a Graduate Diploma in Journalism student on the AUT Asia-Pacific Journalism course. Photos of the Auckland Tamil protest and Neil McInnes are by Christopher Adams.

Falun Gong disciples tell of harassment

By Christopher Adams: Pacific Media Centre

The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China is well documented. But less well known is how followers of the spiritual discipline face harassment in many Western democracies from the Chinese Communist Party through consulates and embassies.

Auckland practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement founded by Li Hongzi in China in 1992, claim they still face many pressures from the Chinese government in New Zealand.

Practitioners say the CCP’s atheist ideologies leave no room for spirituality, which is why the government fears the Falun Gong movement. It has been outlawed in China since 1999.

Charmaine Deng, a practitioner who came to New Zealand 15 years ago from China, says Chinese Falun Gong adherents in Auckland find themselves isolated from the Chinese community.

“We try to talk to them but they close their doors,” she says.

Deng believes the CCP has caused much of the community to become anti-Falun Gong, claiming the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland feeds misinformation to people in order to turn them against the movement.

Propaganda
The consulate’s website contains a large amount of anti-Falun Gong propaganda, describing the movement as a “cult” that is “anti-mankind, anti-anti-science and anti-society”.

“The CCP has extended the persecution of Falun Gong from China to New Zealand,” says Deng.
She says the consulate is not sticking to “New Zealand rules”.

“In New Zealand everything is supposed to be free.”

Daisy Lee began practising Falun Gong in China before moving to New Zealand several years ago. She says the Chinese state media, with its anti-Falun Gong rhetoric, has a big impact on how Chinese people view the movement - especially international students studying in Auckland.

“Chinese international students are the biggest problem for Falun Gong in Auckland,” she says. “They don’t read the Herald or watch New Zealand news, only Chinese media.”

Lee also says a website for Chinese students in New Zealand, skykiwi.com, is a problem for the movement in Auckland because of the many anti-Falun Gong messages posted on the site, often inciting hatred against the movement.

Exposure to Chinese media has turned many international students against the movement, sometimes leading them to turn up at Falun Gong events.

‘Disrupting’ events
The Chinese consulate is organising students to disrupt events and protests held by both the Falun Gong and Free Tibet movements in Auckland, claims Lee.

Lee tells of meeting a Chinese student recently at the University of Auckland, who was putting up posters around the campus for a Chinese Students Association event.

Unaware of Lee being a Falun Gong practitioner, the student boasted he had been “organised” by the Chinese consulate to counter-protest against Free Tibet activists last year.

“Chinese mix up country, nation and government,” she says. “In China, the government is your mother, so some Chinese students believe the Falun Gong and Free Tibet movements are against their motherland.

“When I was a child in China we were told that communism would liberate the world, but after I came to New Zealand I realised communism was there to control us, not to liberate us.”

Another practitioner, Margo Macvicar, came to New Zealand from Scotland 26 years ago.

Macvicar got involved in Falun Gong in Motueka before moving to Auckland recently.

She finds the meditation routines of Falun Gong have given her a “quietness inside”, and changed her life.

Macvicar says Chinese students are one of the main problems the movement faces in Auckland, and also suspects the Chinese consulate of feeding them misinformation about Falun Gong.

“A lot of Chinese have been swayed by the consulate,” she says.

During a protest rally outside the Chinese Consulate in Penrose last year, an unknown vandal smashed Macvicar’s car window. She believes “there is a link” between the protest and the damage done to her car.

She was also spat at once when handing out Falun Gong flyers in Queen St.

Despite being isolated from the Chinese community, Falun Gong practitioners say it is not a lonely existence being part of the movement.

“We don’t feel lonely,” says Macvicar. “It’s not only through our belief; through our practice we learn to be tolerant and compassionate.”

Amos Chen, a practitioner originally from Shanghai, left China on the same day the CCP began cracking down on the movement in 1999.

Chen takes part in the silent protests the Falun Gong regularly hold outside the Chinese Consulate in Penrose.

Passport block
He says the consulate makes life difficult for Falun Gong adherents living in Auckland in many different ways, such as not renewing Chinese passports when practitioners want to go to China to visit sick or dying relatives.

Chen recalls running a Falun Gong stall at an Auckland Chinese festival a few years ago, when a member of the Chinese community in charge of the event asked him if the stall was linked to the Falun Gong.

When he replied yes, the man said: “I want to close your stall because the consulate doesn’t like you.”

David Jiang, president of the Chinese Students Association based at the University of Auckland, denies any link between the Chinese consulate and the association.

A second year engineering student, Jiang says the association with more than 3000 members never acts as an information channel for the consulate.

“We support the Chinese government, but we are not a political group.”

The association’s main focus is on organising entertainment for Chinese students, and services such as free tutorials, he says.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland said there was no knowledge of claimed incidents such as Falun Gong practitioners’ cars being damaged near the consulate.

Picture: Falun Gong practitioner Amos Chen outside the Chinese consulate in Penrose. Photo: Christopher Adams.

Christopher Adams is a student journalist on the Asia-Pacific Journalism course, AUT University.