New Zealand legislator's anger at China security

Friday, June 18, 2010

AFP
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Green MP Russel Norman gets a Tibetan flag torn from his hands by a member of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's entourage when he arrived at Parliament.

WELLINGTON — A New Zealand legislator waving a Tibetan flag Friday accused members of a delegation accompanying China's Vice President Xi Jinping of assaulting him outside parliament in Wellington.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman complained to police after clashing with the delegation members, believed to be security guards, as the Chinese heir apparent arrived at parliament on the second day of a three-day visit.

Norman was waving the Tibetan flag and calling for democracy as Xi -- who is seen as the front-runner to succeed President Hu Jintao in the next two years -- arrived in front of the parliament.

One of Xi's party tried to place an umbrella in front of Norman, who fought back when about a dozen security officers surrounded him, tore the flag out of his hands and threw it to the ground.

Norman shouted out that freedom of speech could be suppressed in China but not in New Zealand.

"I think it's pretty outrageous that Chinese security can come to our country and push around an elected member of parliament simply because we are standing up for democracy and freedom in our own country," he said later.

"The Chinese security guards elbowed me out of the way, and then I got an umbrella over the top of me and they took the flag out my hands and trampled on it," Norman told reporters.

Russel Norman and the Tibetan flag. (Source: NZPA)

He said it was unacceptable for a foreign country's security services to "rough up" a legislator outside parliament.

During the scuffle, Xi was escorted into the building for a meeting with parliamentary Speaker Lockwood Smith.

"I've laid a complaint with the police because New Zealanders need to know they are free to speak without fear of violence or recrimination," Norman said.

"Because (Prime Minister) John Key's government let Chinese security control our parliament, it stopped being a safe place for democracy."

Key said the incident would be investigated and while he supported freedom of speech, it would be a shame if the incident overshadowed Xi's visit.

"It is likely to be the thing that this trip is remembered for and that's disappointing because it's otherwise been an extremely successful -- and I think important -- visit of the vice president to New Zealand," he told reporters.

The vice president is on a tour of the region that takes him to Australia on Saturday.