Amnesty seeks talks with Chinese Premier

The Irish branch of Amnesty International is planning to ask the Government to raise the issue of human rights abuses with the Chinese Premier during his forthcoming visit to Ireland.

Chinese Premier Mr Zhu Rongji

Mr Brian Dooley, a spokesman for Amnesty, told

ireland.com

the group had no objections to the visit

per se

, and saw it as an opportunity to raise concerns with the Premier, Mr Zhu Rongji.

"It’s crucial that Irish politicians and business leaders take the occasion to bring up human rights abuses," he said. "We will make representations to the Government to raise the issue and we are confident they will do so."

Mr Dooley said there were no plans as yet for major protests at the visit, but he anticipated groups, including the Falung Gong, would voice their objections.

Mr Zhu’s arrival on Sunday, September 2nd will mark the first official visit by a Chinese leader to Ireland. The Chinese Vice-Premier, Mr Li Lanqing, was in Dublin last year.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, invited Mr Zhu to Ireland during talks at the ASEM leaders meeting in Seoul, South Korea, last October. They discussed initiatives to improve trade and political links between the two countries.

Trade between Ireland and China has doubled in the past year.

It’s crucial that Irish politicians and business leaders take the occasion to bring up human rights abuses. Amnesty spokesman Brian Dooley

Mr Zhu has a stated interest in the high-tech sector and is expected to visit some software companies.

Proposals to twin Dublin with Beijing erupted into a major row in March this year. The Independent Tibet Network urged the Lord Mayor of Dublin Mr Maurice Ahern to abandon the plan, while Amnesty International described the idea as "dreadfully inappropriate".