When I read the headline at news.com.au of "Australia to be global activist - Rudd", and knowing that Kevin Rudd is about to go on a whirlwind tour around the world talking with world leaders including China, that human rights will be getting a mention.
This belief of mine was fueled on by how the current Rudd government is now repairing it's tarnished record on human rights committed by previous governments, including the previous Howard government, by making significant steps in abolishing the "Pacific Solution" and apologising to the "Stolen Generation" and the Aboriginal community.
I had so much excitement opening the link to read how Australia was to become an activist in the world stage according to Kevin Rudd. Boy was I disappointed!
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is concerned about a number of problems going in the world (Economic, Environmental and National Security) and is going to have a chat with world leaders such as US President Bush, EU leaders in Brussels, NATO members in a summit in Bucharest, US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, World Bank president Robert Zoellick, and finally with the Chinese authorities where trade will be the major topic.
Concering his talks with China, Kevin Rudd has stated that
It is a complex process to negotiate comprehensive improvements in market access with a country undergoing such rapid reform and development...I will be urging my Chinese counterparts to join with us in collectively redoubling our efforts on the negotiations to get a high quality outcome. 1
How about what has been going on in Burma/Myanmar and Tibet Kevin? Remember all those innocent deaths fighting for democracy and freedom Kevin? Why doesn't the Australian Labor party have the balls like their UK counterpart where the UK Foreign Office's annual report on human rights stated that
There has been a "disappointing" lack of progress towards a peaceful settlement in the disputed territory, and people are regularly "harassed" for their religious beliefs. More executions are also carried out in China than anywhere else in the world, and torture of prisoners is a "concern"
Violations of human rights continue in Tibet. We continue to make clear our view that the best way to improve the situation in Tibet is through meaningful dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama and his representatives, without pre-conditions, to achieve a long-term peaceful solution. 2
The one shining light in Kevin Rudd's world tour is his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon where he feels that Australia's reputation in the international community has been tarnished due to its US support of the Iraq war.
While no one is arguing that economic, environmental and national security are not important issues, human rights is just as important and should not be left off the table because we are more concerned with something as superficial as money above the life and rights of another human being.
Lets just hope that after this world tour, that I can do another post and state that Kevin Rudd proved me wrong.
- Beju -
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