By Steve Lewis and Michelle Gilchrist
A group of federal MPs is planning to protest against China’s treatment of neighbouring Tibet when Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Canberra next Friday.
Labor, Democrats, Greens and independent MPs plan to sign a letter that they are hoping to personally hand to Mr Hu during his flying visit to Canberra.
The planned protest is the latest sign of dissent emerging from parliamentarians ahead of the visit of Mr Hu and US President George W. Bush next week.
Mr Bush said on the Nine Network last night he would not be disturbed by any protests by Australian politicians.
Some Labor MPs are planning to protest against Mr Bush when he addresses parliament next Thursday, although several MPs have backed down from earlier threats to turn their back on him during his speech.
Asked if he would mind the protests, Mr Bush said: “Not at all. It means democracy is alive and well. I don’t expect everyone to agree with us.
“But one thing is for certain, the Prime Minister (John Howard) was strong and the Australian military performed brilliantly, I mean brilliantly.
“And I think a lot of people would like to hear that from the American President (and) I’m going to tell them. And if somebody feels like they want to express discontent, that’s OK, that’s democracy.”
Mr Bush said the coalition forces were making significant progress in Iraq.
“Life is pretty darn good, compared to what it was under Saddam Hussein. People aren’t going to be tortured, they’re not going to be raped, they’re not going to be mutilated, there are not going to be mass rapes, and plus the infrastructure is improving. There is an excitement there about a free society emerging.”
The Chinese President may face protests both within the parliament and outside.
The letter from Labor, Democrats, Greens and independent MPs expresses strong support for the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama.
“We support the Dalai Lama’s proposals calling for genuine autonomy for Tibet (and a stable and prosperous People’s Republic of China),” the letter says.
“We believe this proposal would bring benefits for both the Chinese and Tibetan people.”
The pro-Tibetan MPs praise Mr Hu for his work so far on the sensitive political issue, and urge him to go further to provide China’s neighbour with genuine independence.
“We encourage you to do whatever you can to promote further contact between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama’s representatives,” the letter says.
“In particular, we request that you move this initial contact toward a substantive dialogue on a mutually acceptable resolution to the Tibet situation.”
Greens leader Bob Brown said last night the letter would be delivered to the Chinese embassy in Canberra ahead of Mr Hu’s visit to parliament.
But the Tasmanian senator, a member of the parliamentary Friends of Tibet group, said he was also hopeful an MP would be able to hand-deliver a copy of the letter to Mr Hu.
Senator Brown said he expected a “good representation” of MPs to sign the pro-Tibet letter, including Coalition MPs.
The Opposition is continuing to discuss whether it might raise the issue of Tibet – or other aspects of China’s human rights record – during Mr Hu’s visit.
