Dear Chief Minister

I am writing to you on behalf of Amnesty International Australia in reference to the proposal that Beijing become a sister city to Canberra. I understand that the proposal is to come before the Legislative Assembly shortly. I write to you in the light of recent suggestions that the human rights situation in China is improving.

I have to advise you that a decision based upon any such views would be proceeding from a grave error of fact. The Amnesty Report 2000 summarises the human rights situation in China as follows:

1999 saw the most serious and wide-ranging crackdown on peaceful dissent in China for a decade...Those targeted in the crackdown included political dissidents, anti corruption campaigners, labour rights activists, human rights defenders and members of unofficial, religious or spiritual groups. Thousands of people were arbitrarily detained for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association or religion...In the autonomous regions of Tibet and Xinjiang those suspected of nationalist activities and sympathies continued to be the targets of particularly harsh repression.

There has been no change in substance to this situation in 2000. I have set out a more detailed description of the situation in an attachment. You may also be assisted by reference to the address of the latest Amnesty International Report-

The attachment deals with the matters under the following headings:

Repression of political dissent

Persecution of religious belief

Tibet and Xinjiang

General

Responsibility for selecting a sister city and any consequent implications for Canberra's reputation belongs with the ACT government and the Legislative Assembly. It cannot be shifted elsewhere. I am therefore addressing this letter and the attached information to you in the hope it will assist.

I am sending copies to the Leader of the Opposition and independent members of the Assembly.