Australia visa granted for suspected Chinese leader of ethnic violence
August 11 2009 by Matt Jones
Rebiya Kadeer gets Australia visa
Australian immigration have granted a visa for Rebiya Kadeer, who the Chinese say incited the recent ethnic violence, so that she can attend a film festival
Kadeer, head of World Uighur Congress, has been accused by the Chinese government of inciting the ethnic violence between Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs. The violence took place in the Xinjiang region of northwest China last month and claimed at least 197 lives.
Kadeer has since been living in exile in the US and has denied any involvements.
The Australia visa was granted to allow her to take part in the Melbourne International Film Festival, which will be screening a documentary about her life, called The 10 Conditions of Love.
The Chinese government said Australia must “immediately correct its wrongdoings” and cancel Kadeer's temporary visa for Australia as well as her film’s screening.
Australia took no notice of the Chinese demands and so the Chinese have threatened to cut ties between Melbourne and the sister city of Tainjin.
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