NZ Herald Editorial: Freedom cast aside

(Clearwisdom.net)

July 18, 2002 -- Governments have every right to complain about occurrences in other nations when they feel their interests threatened. Usually, this criticism will be broad, directed, perhaps, at a policy which has implications for the complainant's economy. Never should it stoop to minutiae, as seems to be the extraordinary predilection of the Chinese Government. At that point, it becomes an unwarranted intrusion in a country's domestic affairs.

Twice this year China has resorted to such tactics. First it objected to banners strung up in Auckland for the Dalai Lama's visit. Now it has objected to a display at Auckland Airport promoting the Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned in China.

Its bullying has paid off. The Auckland City Council removed the two offending banners, one because it breached city guidelines and the other "to follow Foreign Affairs guidelines which recommend a non-inflammatory line on matters re Tibet/China". Likewise, Auckland Airport has removed the Falun Gong display, saying it had received complaints from travellers as well as the Chinese Embassy.

That seems highly unlikely. Quite simply, the airport has bowed to Chinese pressure, as did the city council before it. Freedom of expression has been denied, as well as, in the case of the airport, a legitimate advertising contract. Foreign Affairs might be wary of Chinese sensibilities, but surely even it could not have expected reactions so supine that a basic New Zealand freedom has been cast aside.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=2098168&thesection=new s&thesubsection=general

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