Predictably, there are different responses emerging to the Russel Scuffle outside parliament on Friday.
John Key says it’s “disappointing”. Murray McCully on Q & A this morning blamed Russel Norman. Others on the panel said it was “bad manners.”
Phil Goff defended the right of New Zealanders to protest at parliament saying : “We expect people to be respectful to our visitors, but we also retain the right to protest peacefully.”
Dr Jian Yang From Auckland University says Chinese security handled the incident badly and created even more publicity, which distracted from the visit itself. He said that it was quite a typical reaction from China to protests overseas and there have been similar cases in other places.
The Chinese are saying something different. Here’s the response from a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry who called the incident “a demonstrator’s harassment of a Chinese delegation….” :
“At the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping paid an official visit to New Zealand starting on June 17. He was warmly welcomed and well received by the government and people of New Zealand. The visit yielded positive results.
When the delegation arrived at the entrance of the parliament building in Wellington Friday noon, it was hostilely harassed by a New Zealand demonstrator within close distance.
The demonstrator’s behaviour posed a threat to the security and dignity of the delegation, and far exceeded the boundaries of the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
Such an attempt to spoil the atmosphere of Xi’s visit and damage the Sino-New Zealand relationship is doomed to fail. It also runs against the common wish of both Chinese people and New Zealanders to enhance bilateral friendship, he added.
New Zealand has apologised to the Chinese side for the incident.”
It is not the first time attempts have been made to shut NZ protests against China down. The most famous was in 1999, when protesters were blocked by a bus as the Chinese president arrived at an APEC summit in Christchurch. And it’s not the first time an MP has used their parliamentary access to protest – I’m thinking here about Shane Ardern on his tractor “Myrtle” driving up parliament’s steps.
I get the argument about bad manners, particularly once you have a look at Norman’s rather pathetic “gimme back my flag” on TV. Chris Trotter has waded into the argument, saying that while Russel Norman exercised his rights, he wasn’t sure he exercised his responsibility, given the importance of New Zealand’s relationship with China.
However, I’m far from convinced that China always needs to take such huge offence at any protest or difference of opinion it comes across in other countries.
I don’t pretend to understand the cultural differences, but there are different views about issues like Tibet and Taiwan – even among the citizens of those countries themselves. And there is a Falun Dafa group in New Zealand who are always protesting.
So when Chinese delegations visit other countries, perhaps they just need to chill a little?
What creeps me out is the way New Zealanders are increasingly being asked to put aside their principles by this government. Whaling, Afghanistan, and now Tibet!
No MP should be made to be silent and polite either, aren’t MPs there to have a voice?
I’m scared 
Well to me it seems that we want to be good friends with China and that is in the knowledge that they aren’t a Democracy. Wouldn’t we expect this from visitors of a non-democratic Government? If we want to be so close to them we have to respect their differences, if you don’t want leaders coming here who won’t put up with Freedom of speech then don’t invite them.
Although that being said they should be respectful of our ways too…
I agree that China is not a democratic country and she still suppress any words which are against the control of CCP.However i do not believe the behaiour of leader of green party can be called as Freedom of SPeech.Obiously he did no just speak ,he tried to come too close to VP of China.This issue actually has nothing to do with how to improve the humen right in Tibet.It is only about how to attract the public attention ,isn’t it?He may foget one important thing ,no matter what kind of idea he has had,in international society no one deny the Tbiet is part of CHina.
To use that flag only means that he try to chanllege another country’s soereignty.He is a MP of country so he must balance the befit of whole country and his own idea.Of cause i belive his motivation may be good.But there is still one question bothering me,will this MP want to give up his life to support his idea in Tibet.I guess he never did it and will not.
I resent this idea being bandied around that he has to do what’s “good” for New Zealand! What’s good for New Zealand is free speech and for me personally I resent anyone being told to shut up about human rights because it’s supposedly good for New Zealand which I am a part of!
I think a hell of a lot of New Zealanders consider what he did good for New Zealand, and selling out the opposite. Let’s kowtow to other countries. Phil Goff must be cringing at the remark that McCully made, I know I am!
Did the security officer believe Norman posed a danger to the person he was assigned to protect?
If yes (and lets face it after watching the footage I’d have thought the same thing) then good on him for dealing to the threat with minimum violence
Norman wanted a reaction and he got it…nuff said
1) Is it true that Russel Normal got within 3m of President Xi? As far as I know, security details really hate that. Its close enough to throw an object, spray a liquid or spit. Anyone that close and still moving in on the principal would be seriously disliked by Putin’s/Clinton’s/Bush’s/Obama’s/Cameron’s body guards.
2)The Auckland academic is quite correct. The negative publicity the Chinese security created for themselves was worse than anything Norman could have done.
3)
Indeed, Bush got mega-protests against him all over the world whenever he visited, most of the time it was ‘water off a ducks back’. You’re such a big global player that having one guy waving a flag around at you should be like, meh. Not even worthy of mention.
Yes, Chris, clearly that flag was a lethal weapon in the hands of someone who was just standing there shouting.
@Spud
Security officers are there to protect as well so its not just about whether someone dies or not but if the person might be injured
Furthermore Spud how exactly was the security officer to know that the flag was just a flag and didn’t conceal a weapon
Just because we know Norman is of no consequence the security officer can’t take that chance otherwise the person hes protecting could be hurt or worse
If you think something like that can’t happen then read this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1534697/Spy-drama-recalls-umbrella-poisoning.html
Well for one thing both his hands were clearly visible as they were holding up the flag. I saw no trepidation in the security thug when he put the umbrella over his head!
Have answered comment in m oderation!
‘He may foget one important thing ,no matter what kind of idea he has had,in international society no one deny the Tbiet is part of CHina.’
lol
But he’s right Tibet has been a part of China for hundreds of years.
@Spud
Try to put yourself in the other persons shoes (yes I know its difficult) and see what the security was seeing
And Norman could try taking a leaf out of Donalds book and protesting peacefully…worked for Ghandi
“Try to put yourself in the other persons shoes (yes I know its difficult)” – stillettos could be a challenge
Norman has his own personality, but as vocal as he was, he made no threatening gestures.
@Spud
You say he made no threatning gestures but you’re not in charge of someones security, I guarantee that if (however unlikely) that you were placed in that position you would see things differently
If you were wrong and Norman did attack the VP what would the consequences have been for you…nothing but for the security officer it would be totally different
Yes, I would be quaking in my boots at that quirky Australian with the flag
@Spud
You just don’t get it do you
Chris, your comments remind me of the movie: The Bodyguard. Now what the VP needs to do is get in Frank Farmer, he’ll take care of bad WRussle and remove the boogie monster from under his bed
And your comments remind of someone whos never had anything like the responsibilty of being in charge of someones protection or understands what that means
“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”
I’ve babysat
NO DPS but, you can bet your life I wouldn’t be clubbing any peaceful protestors with my umbrella :-d
What does Raymond “what crabs in the boot?” Huo think? It’ll be interesting to get a ‘real’ Chinese perspective here.
I second Paul’s comment Raymond come and say something
OK what abou the claim that WRussel may have breached the UN Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations. It specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enables diplomats to perform their function without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country. Russel is after all using his MP ‘legislator’ (his words) status to harrass these diplomats.
The situation regarding China worries me greatly. I am sickened by Key’s apology and scared of what lies ahead. I don’t think our elite will ever say no to China which is stupid as in truth I think they need us more than they need them. We can do without their electronic gadgets- they can’t do without food.
They could really use a farm colony in the south pacific to provide food and house their massive population.
If you were in charge of China and looking for land and food- New Zealand would be a prime target. A sparsely populated land of milk and honey governed by treasonous idiots and fools- you don’t even need guns to make it your own. Throw the politicians a few crumbs like supporting our bid for a place on the security council (what on earth do we need a seat on the security council for anyway?- our politicians should be more worried about our security as a sovereign nation first and foremost) and special visits and its yours for the taking.
The whole soccer world cup thing makes me laugh in the face of what is really happening to our country behind the scenes. All the excitement about the New Zealand team- what a joke when New Zealand as we know it will soon cease to exist. I wish New Zealanders could direct their patriotism into something real- like putting pressure on the elite in this country so they can’t quietly hand us over to China.
Parliamentary privelige.
I don’t think the Chinese detail did anything over the top, they don’t know who this guy is, he could have been a nutter with a gun for all they know…
The Chinese PR is pretty standard faux outrage…
Good on Russell Norman for having a go,isn’t that the Kiwi way.To often we see successive goernments pandering to murderous regimes,yes Tibet has been in the hands of occupiers for hundreds of year but isn’t that the point of demonstration to free them from those shackles and let them self govern.They are definitly not better off as in any given year hundreds maybe thousands who dear to stand up are slaughtered.It is disgusting John Key apologised to the Vice president of China would we expect the same if that occured over there I doubt it,Russell would have been taken out the back and shot.Tianamen square is a prime example of how they handle protest.I for one am glad to see the back of one of the people that belongs to a government that promotes genocide
I think China invaded Tibet about 50 odd years ago, not hundreds…
To all who claim that he or she will support freeing tibet:
Undoubtedly you put yourselves on a higher moral standard.This remind me of something happened in a debate of Maori TV
In that program maori peopel suggest Pakiha go back to europe.Personally i do not think it is fair.As a pakiha has said in that debate:his family fighted for this country .This country is his and his family’s home.Yes he family came from europe but this just was a history.Today he has only one homeland New zealand (i can not remember every word exactly).
I also visited Auckland museum several times.One thing especially shocked me:they call the war museum the scar of heart.This coury has lot of heros who fighted for the beliefs .They are the real heros.The leader of green part is not.And the leaders of green party are not.They just want to play a show.And they did it.
If you really care about the freedom of tibet please stop arguing here.Close your door,go to tibet ,live with them .help them .
Can you do it?will you do it?
Jeremy ‘I think China invaded Tibet about 50 odd years ago, not hundreds…’
Tibet was a part of China for hundreds of years. Britain invaded it somewhere around the WW2 period I forget exactly when, Tibet was independent for a very short while after the British left, I don’t think any longer than a few years. China then took it back just like they took back other areas of China from Japan and from feudal lord’s.
The point of China is that it’s 50+ different races living together in unity to exclude one would defeat the very foundation of what China is about.
lizheng said:
China is rapidly finding that ordinary people want a larger voice in how their local apartment complexes, neighbourhoods and even districts are administered and organised. Also to speak out against their mistreatment by local and district authorities
Now, it is certainly not easy administering a country of 1.4B people spread over such a large land mass and comprised of many different cultures and ethnic beliefs.
However, guiding an increased participation of the citizenry in their own local affairs, allowing citizens’ ideas to be expressed and properly debated, these capacities will prove to be a future strength for China, not a weakness or development to be held back.
By the way Otago University is holding a major symposium on China’s development as a superpower this weekend. Russel Norman’s protest will no doubt be discussed between the leading academics and dignitaries there.
I think China should continue letting citizens participate a little more, but let Tibet go, they don’t want to be part of China and they don’t really need Tibet. – Not looking for a debate – my two cents
China’s leaders has a problem in that greater economic freedom usually leads to a desire for greater political freedom…
Exactly JMH that is what is happening. Even movements for increased labour rights are gaining traction.