Human rights situation ‘getting worse’ in China, says US ambassador/ENG

DHARAMSHALA, January 19: Drawing sharp reactions from Beijing, the US ambassador to China, Gary Locke has said that the communist nation’s human rights record was deteriorating.

"The human rights climate has always ebbed and flowed in China, up and down, but we seem to be in a down period and it's getting worse," Ambassador Gary Locke told interviewer Charlie Rose on US public television earlier this week.

The timing of Ambassador Locke’s comments is being considered critical as it comes days after the 17th Tibetan self-immolated protesting China’s rule over Tibet and weeks before China’s heir apparent Vice President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit America. In fact, the ambassador was in Washington to hold discussions ahead of Xi’s visit.

Ambassador Locke said that the increasing detentions of democracy activists, dissidents, and lawyers in China, following the “Arab Spring” were clear pointers at the threat the country’s communist leaders felt from mass pro-democracy uprisings.

"The Chinese leaders are very fearful of something similar happening within China," Locke said.

"So there's been a significant crackdown on dissension, political discussion, even the rights and the activities of lawyers who advocate on behalf of people who have been poisoned from tainted food and medicines."

Before his appointment in July last year, Ambassador Locke, appearing before the US Senate confirmation hearing had said he will “work closely with the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues and her office to ensure that Tibetan issues are raised frequently and candidly with China's leaders”.

“If confirmed, in consultation with the Special Coordinator, I will support further dialogue between China and the representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve concerns and differences, including the preservation of the religious, linguistic and cultural identity of the Tibetan people,” Ambassador Locke had stated.