Kadeer's speech in Australia criticized

By Li Xiaokun and Cui Jia (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-12 07:46

Rebiya Kadeer should not be commenting on the Rio Tinto case because she is unaware of the facts and only using the issue to further her political ambitions, an expert said.

Kadeer, the head of the World Uygur Congress, was earlier accused by the Chinese government of stoking last month's riot in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, that left at least 197 dead and 1,600 injured.

Despite China's objections, Kadeer, who now lives in the US, yesterday made a televised address from the National Press Club in Canberra and urged Australia to use its muscle in the resource sector to push for the release of Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu.

"The case happened in China and Rebiya Kadeer has been living abroad for a long time, I don't think she really looked into what occurred here," said Zhang Tuosheng, director of the Research Department at the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies.

"The Chinese government has said the case will proceed according to the law and that China doesn't want to see it shadow relations with Australia," Zhang said. "But Kadeer is apparently encouraging dissension between the two nations just for her own purpose - to win support from Australia."

China has strongly opposed Kadeer's visit to Australia and protested after she was given a visa.