Spineless Mayors Bow to Chinese Pressure
Chinese government agents in NZ have been pressuring, threatening and spying on local Chinese for years.
Now they are getting cocky enough to monster our local body "leaders".
From today's NZ Herald
Mayors are coming under pressure from the Chinese Government not to support a cultural show being held in Auckland - because some of the cast are members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement.
All seven mayors in the Auckland region received invitations to the Divine Performing Arts show at the Civic Theatre - billed as a peaceful celebration of ancient Chinese culture - yet none will attend.
Some of the mayors received phone calls from the Chinese Consulate advising them not to attend the show and pointing out the Falun Gong connection of some of the performers.
Previously North Shore City Mayor George Wood had confirmed his attendance at the event, but later withdrew the offer after the Chinese Consulate contacted him about the group's Falun Gong associations.
"I felt uneasy about the whole thing," he said yesterday. "I've got more to do than get into a situation where I'm going to be the meat in a sandwich."
Mr Wood said he spoke to the arts group and was left with the impression that what the Chinese official had told him was true.
"I don't know what Falun Gong is and I have never really understood the merits of either side of the argument but I realised attending wasn't in my best interests."
He said he had a "fairly good relationship" with China.
The group, which includes members of the Falun Gong peace movement outlawed by China, is due to perform in Auckland tonight.
A spokeswoman said that during their four-month world tour the group had experienced "severe interference" from Chinese officials in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and now this country.
A spokesman for Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard said he would not attend the event because of a previous engagement but confirmed that the consulate had contacted the mayor's office.
Local dignitaries have not been the only ones to feel the consulate's pressure.
Publicist Charlotte Cuthbertson said the Chinese Herald cancelled an advertisement for the show after bowing to consulate pressure.
Ms Cuthbertson said that although some members of the performing arts group were Falun Gong practitioners, the show itself was not a Falun Gong production.
She said the New York-based group experienced interference from the Chinese Government wherever they went, most recently in Australia.
Last night United Future leader Peter Dunne said the incident was a "reprehensible intervention in our democratic way of life".
"I don't think it's appropriate for diplomatic representatives of the Chinese Government to be telling New Zealanders, be they members of Parliament, mayors or individual citizens, what they can and cannot do."
New Zeal
Congratulations to Peter Dunne for speaking out against this blatant Chinese interference in NZ affairs.
As we get more and more economically dependent on China, this kind of pressure will only increase.
Which is better-that "The Warehouse" is full of cheap Chinese goods, or that we maintain our freedoms and our national independence?
I urge every Aucklander reading this to go to the show tonight.
Here's North Shore Mayor George Wood's email address.
George.Wood@northshorecity.govt.nz
Drop him an email. Let him know what a spineless disgrace you think he is.
Now they are getting cocky enough to monster our local body "leaders".
From today's NZ Herald
Mayors are coming under pressure from the Chinese Government not to support a cultural show being held in Auckland - because some of the cast are members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement.
All seven mayors in the Auckland region received invitations to the Divine Performing Arts show at the Civic Theatre - billed as a peaceful celebration of ancient Chinese culture - yet none will attend.
Some of the mayors received phone calls from the Chinese Consulate advising them not to attend the show and pointing out the Falun Gong connection of some of the performers.
Previously North Shore City Mayor George Wood had confirmed his attendance at the event, but later withdrew the offer after the Chinese Consulate contacted him about the group's Falun Gong associations.
"I felt uneasy about the whole thing," he said yesterday. "I've got more to do than get into a situation where I'm going to be the meat in a sandwich."
Mr Wood said he spoke to the arts group and was left with the impression that what the Chinese official had told him was true.
"I don't know what Falun Gong is and I have never really understood the merits of either side of the argument but I realised attending wasn't in my best interests."
He said he had a "fairly good relationship" with China.
The group, which includes members of the Falun Gong peace movement outlawed by China, is due to perform in Auckland tonight.
A spokeswoman said that during their four-month world tour the group had experienced "severe interference" from Chinese officials in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and now this country.
A spokesman for Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard said he would not attend the event because of a previous engagement but confirmed that the consulate had contacted the mayor's office.
Local dignitaries have not been the only ones to feel the consulate's pressure.
Publicist Charlotte Cuthbertson said the Chinese Herald cancelled an advertisement for the show after bowing to consulate pressure.
Ms Cuthbertson said that although some members of the performing arts group were Falun Gong practitioners, the show itself was not a Falun Gong production.
She said the New York-based group experienced interference from the Chinese Government wherever they went, most recently in Australia.
Last night United Future leader Peter Dunne said the incident was a "reprehensible intervention in our democratic way of life".
"I don't think it's appropriate for diplomatic representatives of the Chinese Government to be telling New Zealanders, be they members of Parliament, mayors or individual citizens, what they can and cannot do."
New Zeal
Congratulations to Peter Dunne for speaking out against this blatant Chinese interference in NZ affairs.
As we get more and more economically dependent on China, this kind of pressure will only increase.
Which is better-that "The Warehouse" is full of cheap Chinese goods, or that we maintain our freedoms and our national independence?
I urge every Aucklander reading this to go to the show tonight.
Here's North Shore Mayor George Wood's email address.
George.Wood@northshorecity.govt.nz
Drop him an email. Let him know what a spineless disgrace you think he is.
posted by Trevor Loudon at
4/05/2007 10:50:00 AM
9 Comments:
Just like in San Fran. Typical. If I were in charge, I would boot out the folks pressuring me.
Outrageous. Even the Labour party only conducts witchhunts against fringe religious groups in their own country.
As America slides down the slippery slope toward self destruction, China is positioning itself to grab the crown of capitalism.
Nations of all persuasions are clamouring over each other to appease the Chinese communists so each may gain a slice of the economic pie on offer. Its all about bucks. America is in the rush with everybody else. A touch of irony.
I recently purchased a set of front stub axles for a 62 Chevrolet Impala. Brand new Genuine GM product. MADE IN CHINA.
Nothing is sacred in the world of commerce.
Dirk.
"As America slides down the slippery slope toward self destruction, China is positioning itself to grab the crown of capitalism."
China capitalist? Is that why Hugo Chavez, protege of Fidel Castro is supporting China? Yea, China is Capitalist. That's like saying that camels can live in the artic.
Please Dirk, why did you praise Communist China for it pressuring the New Zealand government to not allow the Falun Gong to be involved in this activity?
You often lecture how "horrible" America is, but when it comes to China silencing the Falun Gong, you praise how "great" it is?
With respect mah29001,Dirk is probably correct in describing China as capitalist,however it is certainly not the free enterprise capitalism which allows us all to prosper.China's form of capitalism could more accurately be described as Fascist State capitalism.This system has none of the individual freedoms which accompany some systems of Capitalism in the West,and is entirely economic.As Dirk also correctly states the West's giant financial institutions are falling over themselves to appease the Chinese State,so that they may grab part of China's economic "success story".This is totally morally bankrupt and sadly is another indicator of the decline of the West.Remember,in the days of the old Soviet Union,Russia was one of the biggest players on world gold markets,this at a time when "Pravda"et al,were condemning "capitalism at every opportunity.So Individual free enterprse Capitalism,which allows each to keep the rewards of his/her own labour is the system to which we should aspire,Fascist state capitalism,as practised,extraordinarily successfully in China at present,is mainly allowing the state to accumulate huge wealth.
Does anyone know anything more about horrific recent reports of Chinese state agencies harvesting organs from living Falun Gung Practitioners?
Well said Ma Evans.
The irony in my comments is always lost on Mah.
Dirk.
"The irony in my comments is always lost on Mah."
Please. Praising China at the same time it's cracking down and repressing against the Falun Gong? Gee, how low can one really go?
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