Protesters rally outside Chinese embassy

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Protesters rally outside Chinese embassy
Article from: AAP

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25895478-5005961,00.html

August 07, 2009 10:22am

ABOUT 100 members of Australia's Uighur community are protesting in support of exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer outside the Chinese consulate in Melbourne.

Ms Kadeer arrived in Australia from Washington on Tuesday amid controversy over the screening of a film about her life, called The Ten Conditions of Love, by Australian filmmaker Jeff Daniels.

The protesters are outside the consulate in the inner city suburb of Toorak, chanting "We want justice, we want freedom".

The protest has so far been peaceful and there are about 30 police on the scene, including several on horseback.

The Chinese consulate last month asked the organisers of the Melbourne International Film Festival to dump the film.

The organisers declined and the film is expected to screen before about 1300 people at the Melbourne Town Hall tomorrow.

Beijing has blamed Kadeer for inciting last month's riots in western China, in which about 197 people were killed.

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Protesters rally outside Chinese consulate
ABC August 7, 2009, 1:19 pm

Uighur protesters staged a vocal rally outside the Chinese consulate in Melbourne

ABC News © Enlarge photo

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5784841

Dozens of ethnic Uighurs have protested outside the Chinese consulate in Melbourne, where they have accused China of genocide.

About 100 protesters with graphic placards called for an end to the persecution to the Uighur minority in Western China.

The rally coincided with a visit to Melbourne by the exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer.

Ms Kadeer addressed the crowd outside the consulate.

Speaking through an interpreter, Ms Kadeer accused China of trying to cover up violence against the Uighur people.

"We've always been peacefully struggling for our freedom, for democracy, and for our human rights," she said.

She told supporters the Chinese Government has tried to hide the real number of Uighurs killed in clashes with Chinese forces recently.

"We don't have the exact number of the people who were killed, wounded, arrested and taken away by the Chinese authorities on July 5th and after but we know the number is extremely high," she said.

"And we know the Chinese Government is attempting to cover-up what it did on that tragic day."

Police were out in force amid fears pro-China protesters could stage a counter rally.

Ms Kadeer is a figurehead and activist for the Chinese Muslim minority and is visiting Australia to take part in the Melbourne International Film Festival.

The film about her life - Ten Conditions Of Love - has attracted controversy, with Chinese authorities attempting to have it banned from screening.

China also tried to stop Ms Kadeer's visit from going ahead, summoning the Australian ambassador in Beijing to explain why a visa was granted.

She has said she is in Australia to spread a message of peace.

"Australia has shown the power of democracy, the power of freedom to give me this opportunity. This trip is unbelievably important for me," she said.

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/08/07/2649911.htm

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http://media.theage.com.au/kadeer-china-must-reveal-truth-669633.html