Naughty Liberal Democrats get a kicking from the UN
Well, ish, as it was not the Lib Dems per se, but rather Liberal International, the yellow equivalent of the Socialist International or the International Democrat Union (which my lot and the Republicans are members of).
However: "The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), acting on a complaint by China, this afternoon withdrew the general consultative status of Liberal International, a United Kingdom-based body that had won that status in 1995. By a vote of 13 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States), with 2 abstentions (Peru and Romania), the Committee stripped Liberal International of its consultative status with the Economic and Social Council on the grounds that the organization had severely abused that status on 4 March by assisting a ranking official from China’s Province of Taiwan to gain access to a meeting of the Human Rights Council and advocate Taiwan’s membership in the World Health Organization (WHO)". Source.
Among the delightful liberal democracies supporting China were Cuba, Sudan, Egypt, Angola, Burundi and Syria. The reasoning for Cuba's support is remarkably frank: "Cuba’s representative said Liberal International had seriously violated the provisions of resolution 1996/31 and had also severely criticized Cuba. The decision to withdraw its general consultative status was the right one".
The Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party is a member of the Liberal International, while neither the Socialist International nor the International Democrat Union appear to have Taiwanese parties as members. Anyway, hats off to LI for actually being liberal and for doing something righteous. It is a pity they did not get away with it.
However: "The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), acting on a complaint by China, this afternoon withdrew the general consultative status of Liberal International, a United Kingdom-based body that had won that status in 1995. By a vote of 13 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States), with 2 abstentions (Peru and Romania), the Committee stripped Liberal International of its consultative status with the Economic and Social Council on the grounds that the organization had severely abused that status on 4 March by assisting a ranking official from China’s Province of Taiwan to gain access to a meeting of the Human Rights Council and advocate Taiwan’s membership in the World Health Organization (WHO)". Source.
Among the delightful liberal democracies supporting China were Cuba, Sudan, Egypt, Angola, Burundi and Syria. The reasoning for Cuba's support is remarkably frank: "Cuba’s representative said Liberal International had seriously violated the provisions of resolution 1996/31 and had also severely criticized Cuba. The decision to withdraw its general consultative status was the right one".
The Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party is a member of the Liberal International, while neither the Socialist International nor the International Democrat Union appear to have Taiwanese parties as members. Anyway, hats off to LI for actually being liberal and for doing something righteous. It is a pity they did not get away with it.
Labels: China, Lib Dems, United Nations
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on Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 11:30 am.
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It's a tricky question: Should the Liberal Alliance (or for that matter, any political body) a: act according to its convictions or b: stick to the letter of the legislation.
While I realise people are tempted to knee-jerk their way to a 'b' response, there are certainly times in the past where one would advocate political figures, at least, (if not bodies) to act for justice or what-they-see-as-justice rather than stick rigidly to guidelines.
I'd have to say that breaking the rules to allow a representative from Taiwan to plead their case to the WHO has got to be one of the most admirable instances of corruption I recall hearing of recently.
They have just gained a new fan.
I still think it's bonkers that the international community pretend that Taiwan doesn't exist while all the time we are happy to do business with the island etc.
No disagreement from me on either point.
Vive la Formose!
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