Dharamshala: - Australian Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, raised the issue of Human Rights in Tibet and Xinjiang during a Chinas fourth highest ranking leader, Jia Qinglin's recent visit to Australia.
Mr Rudd's spokesperson told Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph that: They discussed human rights in China and, while noting the different systems in Australia and China, agreed to continue the dialogue between their governments on this issue."
In 2008 Mr Rudd, then Prime Minister, also raised the issue of Human Rights during a speech at a Beijing University, receiving the wrath of Senior Chinese Government officials at the time.
The Chinese State visit is taking place just after what many rights groups are saying is the toughest crackdown on free speech in many years. In recent weeks China has arrested a score of Chinese writers, lawyers and activists including such high profile persons like artist and activist Ai Weiwei.
Two days earlier Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard reportedly also raised the topic of Human Rights with Jia Qinglin. Ms Gillard is due to visit China later this month for the first time as Prime Minister.
Jia Qinglin is the chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, China's most powerful body. As the head of the United Front Department, he is also a key player in Tibet affairs and has been directly involved with the so called dialogues between representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government.
During the time of Mr. Jia's visit, dozens of Australian Tibetan activists have been experiencing virus-attacks to their email accounts and internet connections, reports Australian newsmedia The Age. The affected activists, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama's representative in Australia, Sonam Dagpo, say they suspect the Chinese government's involvement, and have reported the matter to the federal police.
Jigme Dorjee, the head of the Tibetan Community of Australia (NSW), said someone hacked into his email account on Tuesday night and sent an email to all on his mailing lists. The email purported to be from Mr Dorjee and claimed he was overseas and needed money urgently.
Dozens of people who received the email have since experienced problems with their internet connections and email accounts. When asked who he thought was responsible for the hacking, Mr Dorjee said China. ''That's what I think, because around the world Tibetans are a problem for the [Chinese] government.''
Last year a Canadian research paper outlined a large and well-resourced cyber spying network that primarily targeted the Tibetan exile community.
