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发帖数: 10330 | 1 Freeland demands ‘immediate release’ of detained Canadians Kovrig and
Spavor
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-freeland-demands-release-of-detained-canadians/
STEVEN CHASE
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 21, 2018
UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
Canada is now calling for the “immediate release” of two Canadians
detained by China after the Vancouver arrest of Huawei executive Meng
Wanzhou in what amounts to a significant shift in tone by Ottawa toward
Beijing.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland made the statement on Friday
afternoon using words that more strongly criticize China’s conduct than
previous government remarks. She also described the situation as “arbitrary
detention."
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Michael Spavor, left, and Michael Kovrig
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Chinese officials took former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur
Michael Spavor into custody on Dec. 10, just days after China promised
retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Ms. Meng. Canada apprehended the Huawei
chief financial officer on Dec. 1, when she was changing planes in Vancouver
, in response to a request from the United States under an extradition
treaty.
“We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities
of two Canadians earlier this month and call for their immediate release,”
Ms. Freeland said on Friday.
Key allies including the United States, Britain and the European Union also
spoke in support of Canada and the detained Canadians on Friday.
Ms. Freeland’s remarks are the first in which Canada has called for the “
immediate release” of Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor. This phrase is a fairly
blunt diplomatic language that is reserved for when one country believes
another state has absolutely no grounds to arrest its citizens.
“We’re not saying they should have due legal process in China – we’re
making it clear this is not about due process any more and we recognize this
to be a tit-for-tat retaliation,” David Mulroney, a former Canadian
ambassador to China, said of Canada’s use of “immediate release.”
The former envoy said media reports that Mr. Kovrig has been treated harshly
in China may have inspired Canada to act. On Thursday, news broke that Mr.
Kovrig is not allowed to apply for bail or see a lawyer, faces questioning
every morning, afternoon and evening, and is forbidden to turn off the
lights at night. He is allowed only one consular visit from Canadian
diplomats a month, and family and loved ones cannot see him, the reports
said.
Mr. Mulroney said that, in his opinion, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s
comments on this matter in year-end interviews with the media were not tough
enough and did not convey sufficient urgency. He speculated the Freeland
statement is a corrective measure.
Ms. Freeland defended Canada’s decision to arrest Ms. Meng and said she is
being treaty fairly and according to Canada’s “rule of law” system, in
which the arbitrary exercise of power is restricted because authorities must
operate according to established and well-defined laws. “Canada is a
country governed by the rule of law. Canada is conducting a fair, unbiased
and transparent legal proceeding with respect to Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s
chief financial officer,” Ms. Freeland said in her statement on Friday.
“Canada respects its international legal commitments, including by
honouring its extradition treaty with the United States. The rule of law is
fundamental to all free societies. We will defend and uphold this principle."
China’s embassy in Canada has called the Huawei CFO’s arrest a “political
conspiracy” to undermine the telecom giant, and has dismissed Mr. Trudeau
’s assertion he had no role in the case.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently sowed confusion by musing he might
interfere in the process to use Ms. Meng, whose father is Huawei’s founder,
as a bargaining chip in his trade war with China.
The U.S. State Department on Friday defended Canada’s conduct in the Meng
arrest, saying in a statement that Canada is respecting its international
legal commitments by honouring its extradition treaty with the United States
. "We share Canada’s commitment to the rule of law as fundamental to all
free societies, and we will defend and uphold this principle. We also
express our deep concern for the Chinese government’s detention of two
Canadians earlier this month and call for their immediate release,” deputy
spokesperson Robert Palladino said.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt attempted to counter accusations by
Beijing that Ms. Meng is the victim of political machinations, saying
Britain has confidence Canada is conducting “a fair and transparent legal
proceeding.”
“The U.K. and Canada share a commitment to the rule of law, which is
fundamental to all free societies,” Mr. Hunt said in a statement. “I am
deeply concerned by suggestions of a political motivation for the detention
of two Canadian citizens by the Chinese government. I call for them to be
treated in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner.”
Also on Friday, a European Union spokesman raised concerns about China’s
treatment of the Canadian detainees. “The declared motive for the arrest
and detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, both Canadian nationals,
raises concerns about legitimate research and business practices in China.
The denial of access to a lawyer under their status of detention is contrary
to the right of defence,” the EU said.
Ms. Freeland thanked other countries for their public defence of Canada.
Mr. Mulroney said Canadians should not shy away from speaking in a
straightforward manner to Beijing.
“We tend to be horrified with blunt talk towards China, but we shouldn’t
forget successive Chinese officials have criticized Canada’s conduct," he
said. “They need to hear the blunt truth in China.” |
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