Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING21795
2006-10-13 13:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

CANADA'S HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE ON HOLD; CUT BACKS

Tags:  PHUM PGOV CH CA UK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHBJ #1795 2861322
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 131322Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9775
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2980
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1373
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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).

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