CANADA'S HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE ON HOLD; CUT BACKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 021795 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2031 TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH CA UK SUBJECT: CANADA'S HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE ON HOLD; CUT BACKS IN CHINA-UK DIALOGUE REF: A. BEIJING 21794 ¶B. BEIJING 21638 Classified By: Classified by Political Internal Unit Chief Susan Thornton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Canadian Embassy has halted preparations for its next round of human rights dialogue with China pending clarification of Canadian Parliamentary Secretary Jason Kenney's unconfirmed statement that the dialogue has been "suspended." Separately, China told the British Embassy it will cut back the frequency of its formal human rights dialogue with the United Kingdom. End summary. ¶2. (C) On October 11, Canadian Embassy Political Counselor Chantal Meagher told Poloff that Canadian media have reported that Parliamentary Secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Harper, Jason Kenney, said that Canada's Human Rights dialogue with China has been "suspended." Kenney, whom Meagher characterized as "one of Canada's most influential policymakers on China," has since reportedly explained that his remarks were misinterpreted. ¶3. (C) The Canadian Embassy in Beijing was "completely blindsided" by Kenney's comments, Meagher commented. The Embassy had been preparing for a late-November round of dialogue, but has discontinued further planning pending further clarification from Ottawa. Meagher anticipated the issue would be ironed out before scheduled meetings between Kenney and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei in Canada the week of October 16. ¶4. (C) On October 12, British Embassy Second Secretary Lucy Hughes told Poloff that the MFA's Li said China will cut its human rights dialogue with the United Kingdom from two rounds to one round per year. In explanation, Li Nan said MFA officials were busily engaged in formal dialogue with many countries. Hughes said the British Embassy views the change as a very negative development, casting serious doubt on China's commitment to dialogue with the UK. The Embassy is considering its options and waiting for reaction and guidance from London. ¶5. (C) Despite uncertainty surrounding their formal dialogues, both Canadian and British Embassy reps said they were continuing to engage the MFA on human rights issues. Earlier this week, Meagher met with MFA Human Rights Acting Director Li Nan to deliver a demarche on specific human rights cases, including cases involving the harassment, intimidation and detention of family members of political prisoners. Meagher said that the meeting was "cordial" and that Li Nan agreed to look into the cases Meagher raised, which included the case of Rebiya Kadeer's three detained sons. The British Embassy protested the recent shooting on the Tibetan border with the MFA on October 12 (reftels),Hughes related. Randt