Chinese politician evades protesting MP

Green Party MP Rod Donald (left) speaks with a member of the Diplomatic Protection Squad while protesting outside Parliament. Picture / Fotopress

Chinese security guards tried to have free-Tibet protester and Green Party co-leader Rod Donald removed from the view of National People's Congress of China chairman Wu Bangguo as he arrived at Parliament today.

However, Mr Donald, carrying a Tibetan flag, was allowed to stay and the Chinese security officers were not allowed to block him from view.

One security guard and two New Zealand police were stationed next to Mr Donald.

However, Mr Wu did not walk up Parliament's steps on the red carpet laid out for him but took an alternate entrance through the Beehive.

"I think Mr Wu should have taken the honourable step of walking up the steps to our Parliament but that's his choice," Mr Donald told reporters.

"What I am concerned about is the Chinese security who tried to get me cleared away from standing on the forecourt of Parliament.

"...the Chinese government needs to know we are a democracy, not a police state, that this is Parliament - a people's place - not Tiananmen Square where people who speak up for democracy are shot."

The Greens are calling on the Chinese Government to enter into negotiations with the Dalai Lama over the future of Tibet -- a country occupied by China from 1950.

"The point of my protest was to highlight not just what the Chinese Government is doing to the people of Tibet but what it's doing to its own people."

China last year executed 3400 people and thousands were in prisons and forced labour camps for their political views, Mr Donald said.

"I fervently hope that (Prime Minister Helen Clark) does raise human rights issues with Mr Wu because its unconscionable for New Zealand to be kow towing to China for a free trade agreement and not also raising issues of Tibet, issues of Taiwan, issues of the labour camps, child labour, exploitation and destruction of the environment."

Mr Donald said his protest was directed at the Chinese and New Zealand governments.

Speaker Margaret Wilson had given Mr Donald permission to stand beside the steps of parliament but when he arrived Chinese security officials called for police to remove him. Four guards then blocked Mr Donald from view but Parliamentary security asked them to step aside.

"I'm not sure why the police felt they had to stand two uniforms (uniformed officers) beside me. I had made clear to the speaker and the Prime Minister's office my protest would be a silent one, it would be discreet, but I guess there was pressure from the Chinese government to ensure I didn't do anything that they would find threatening.

A small group from Friends of Tibet had also protested. Spokeswoman Ellen Blake saw Mr Wu taking an alternative entrance as a success.

"He ducked in the side door. They saw the Tibetan flag and they hate seeing the Tibetan flag because it means something to them. They know they have oppressed the people of Tibet," she said.

Ms Blake did not believe the protest was pointless.

"I think people all around the world should stand up against injustices."

No protesters of Chinese decent were in the Friends of Tibet group but about 20 students from China living here waved flags in support of their government.

Victoria University student Jackie Wei, 22, said Mr Wu had waved to them. Mr Wei said the next generation supported the Government.

Mr Wu is the second highest ranking politician after President Hu Jintao. While in Wellington Mr Wu, the head of China's equivalent of Parliament, will meet Miss Clark and Ms Wilson.

Miss Clark visits China on Sunday.

Mr Wu was to have received a Maori greeting when he arrived and performers were ready for him on the first floor of Parliament .

However, by taking the other entrance Mr Wu missed the greeting.

It is unclear if a greeting was held at a different venue but photographers and television crews were disappointed to miss the scheduled photo opportunity.

The prime minister's office confirmed the powhiri was cancelled.

"Officials were aware that the presence of a Tibetan flag outside this morning would cause gross offence to the Chinese visitors and so a decision was taken to forego the powhiri and ceremony out there and bring him straight into the building," a spokesman said.

There was no comment on Mr Donald's protest.

- NZPA