Islington Lib Dems join Chinese embassy demo

1.02.35pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jun 2008

Emily and Bridget speaking up for human rights in China

Islington Liberal Democrats Bridget Fox and Emily Fieran-Reed joined hundreds of protesters outside the Chinese Embassy last week. The demonstration, organised by Islington-based Amnesty International, was highlighting support for the Tiananmen mothers for justice. Amnesty want international pressure on the Chinese authorities not to react violently against people standing up for human rights.

The demonstrators support the calls on the Chinese authorities made by the Tiananmen Mothers for them to be able to publicly mourn, without harassment, for those killed in the 1989 military crackdown on peaceful protesters in Beijing . Amnesty are pressing the Chinese authorities to allow public debate about Tiananmen Square as an important step towards securing justice for the victims of the 1989 crackdown and their families.

Islington South & Finsbury parliamentary candidate Bridget Fox says, "19 years ago, the world was shocked by the Tiananmen Square massacre. Now all eyes are on China again. The world is moved by the public mourning of China 's earthquake bereaved. But the mothers of the dead and missing from Tiananmen Square are still not allowed to mourn in public; any discussion of the events of June 1989 is still suppressed. These families have never had justice. I wanted to let China know that the world has not forgotten them."

St Mary's ward councillor Emily Fieran-Reed adds, "As a Liberal Democrat, fighting to protect human rights is at the core of my beliefs. The Labour Government has so far missed the opportunity created by the Olympics to put pressure on China over its appalling human rights record. That's why I felt it was up to ordinary people like me to send a strong message to the Chinese Government that that the rest of the world is watching and it is time for change."