Do you think the Key Government will take the Chinese Government to task for the way its security goons manhandled the Green's Russel Norman in the grounds of Parliament?
The Chinese thugs got all upset because Norman was waving a Tibetan flag in the direction of Vice President Xi Jinping. They ripped the flag from Norman who was also knocked to the ground.
This is outrageous and unacceptable behaviour by the Chinese goons but you can bet that the Government will attempt to brush the entire incident under the carpet.
After all, because both Labour and National are keen to develop economic ties with China, most of our parliamentary politicians have turned a blind eye to such 'minor' things as the Chinese regime's flagrant violation of fundamental human rights.
When it comes to China its a case of 'see no evil, hear no evil,speak no evil'.
And that has also been the case with some of the local blogosphere.
Back in 2008 the Labour Government of Helen Clark refused to condemn the violent Chinese suppression of the Tibetan uprising. Of course Prime Minister Clark didn't quite put it this way. She said she wanted 'to find out the full story behind the riots.'
The Green's Keith Locke described Clark's comments as 'weasel words'.
The Clark Government, suprise, never did get round to condemning the Chinese regime. It wouldn't of been 'a good look' when you are about to sign a free trade agreement with that country.
There was no criticism of Labour's inaction by Labour-aligned blogs, the most popular being The Standard.
Indeed The Standard, clearly following the example set by Clark, mostly had nothing to say about the Chinese military crackdown.
So its ironic that The Standard is now bravely demanding that the Key Government make 'a formal protest to China' over this new case of Chinese thuggery.
The hypocrisy of The Standard is certainly breathtaking.
It seems that this brave blog is only prepared to criticise the Chinese regime when Labour isn't in power.
Over at Bowalley road, your old Trottersky has taken the opportunity to use this episode to reproduce a eulogy of Rod Donald.
ReplyDeleteI thought Norman did quite a good job.
Further he put himself on the map, until now he has seemed a bland character.
I was disappointed by Chris Trotter's comments on One News. While he recognised Norman's rights to protest he echoed McCully by suggesting that Norman had not acted 'responsibly' because it might of upset the Chinese regime.
ReplyDeleteBut how 'responsible' is it to turn a convenient blind eye to the brutal hehaviour of a dictatorship?