Diplomats, activists decry Chinese ‘threats’ at UN rights council

Diplomats and activists denounce intense Chinese lobbying, pressure and even threats to rein in criticism of Beijing during last month’s session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) charges that the Chinese mission in Geneva sent a letter to a number of missions urging them to stay away from a US-organized event on March 13 about China’s treatment of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province.

The letter, signed by Ambassador Yu Jianhua and seen by AFP, tells countries “not to co-sponsor, participate in or be present at this side event… in the interest of our bilateral relations and continued multilateral cooperation.”

Chinese officials, HRW’s Geneva director John Fisher says, are now “using public as well as private pressure to block concerted international action.”

— AFP