China dismisses French demand on Tiananmen prisoners

CHINA: China on Tuesday dismissed France’s demand for the release of political prisoners jailed after the 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen democracy protests, saying it was strongly opposed to such “interference”.

France on Monday joined the United States in calling on China to release prisoners jailed 23 years ago after troops stormed central Beijing, ending six weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations.

“We express our strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the French statement,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters Tuesday.

“This is interference into China’s internal affairs.”

China still considers the Tiananmen demonstrations a “counter-revolutionary rebellion” and has refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing or consider compensation for the hundreds, and perhaps thousands, killed.

On Monday, French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said Paris “wants to see Chinese prisoners of conscience freed”.

“We recall our unwavering commitment to the defence of human rights, including the fundamental right to freedom of expression, in China and around the world,” he said.

AFP