Prescott accused of snubbing Dalai Lama by ignoring criticisms of China’s human rights record to make regular diplomatic visits

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Prescott accused of snubbing Dalai Lama by ignoring criticisms of China’s human rights record to make regular diplomatic visits

July 7th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Gerri Peev, Political Correspondent

PUBLISHED:

18:14 EST, 6 July 2012

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UPDATED:

18:15 EST, 6 July 2012

John Prescott was accused of a deliberate snub to the Dalai Lama yesterday as he forged close links with China’s hardline communist regime.

The Labour peer – who is planning a return to public office – has visited China four times since stepping down as an MP in 2010.

He has also been paid by a think tank set up on the instructions of the Chinese premier.

Close links: John Prescott on a visit to a Beijing school in October 2006

Such is his apparent loyalty to the regime in Beijing that organisers of a business summit claim he pulled out of a recent meeting because the Dalai Lama, a fierce critic of China’s human rights record, was a keynote speaker.

The former Deputy Prime Minister is seeking election to a £75,000-a-year post as the new Police Commissioner of Humberside.

Yet critics have questioned whether he would have time for the role alongside his globe-trotting.

Lord Prescott visited Beijing on a junket paid for by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in June 2011. The think tank was set up by the former vice premier of China, Zeng Peiyan, on the instructions of Wen Jibao – the communist ruler of the country.

Snubbed: Prescott pulled out of a recent meeting with the Dalai Lama

Weeks later, Lord Prescott visited Shanghai to be awarded an honorary degree from Ningbo University.

Two months later, in September 2011, he visited the world’s fastest developing city, Chongqing, to attend the opening conference of a hotel.

But organisers of a business summit in Yorkshire last month claim he pulled out because the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader in exile, was a keynote speaker.

Lord Prescott is alleged to have told Mike Firth, organiser of the Yorkshire International Business Convention, that because of his ‘strong political connections with China, he doesn’t want to offend them with possible “Tibet issues”’.

Mr Firth said: ‘I actually like the guy but it was disappointing that he caved in to pressure from the Chinese Embassy, who put pressure on him and Leeds City Council to withdraw.’

Tory MP Charlie Elphicke called on Lord Prescott to reveal the value of his visits to China and whether he drew any other benefits from his link to the country. He said: ‘As a potential police commissioner, he will have to stand up for people’s rights and uphold our democracy. It is staggering that he cannot even share a stage with the Dalai Lama.’

Tessa Munt, a Lib Dem MP and member of the all-party Tibet group, said: ‘The Dalai Lama is a modest, gentle, lovely man. We could all learn something from meeting him.’

A source close to Lord Prescott insisted that he had not pulled out of the event due to a reluctance to share a stage with the Dalai Lama, but because he was campaigning to become police commissioner.

He added that he had an interest in China because he had been head of the China Taskforce set up by the Labour government, as well as the EU’s rapporteur for climate change.

PREZZA THE FREQUENT FLYER’S MANY TRIPS TO CHINA

September 27-30 2011: Chongqing. He attended the opening of a hotel, flights and accommodation paid for by March Publishing Ltd, a communications firm in Cambridgeshire.
July 8-14 2011: Shanghai. Collected an honorary degree from Ningbo University. Gave speeches to the Chinese Young Leaders training programme, a climate change conference, an event on corporate social responsibility and a finance forum. The trip was paid for by Nottingham University.
June 24-26 2011: Visit to Beijing to attend a summit given by the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges. Flights, hotels and transfers were paid for by the think tank, set up under the instructions of the communist regime.
June 24-26 2010 Lord Prescott was billed as a speaker at a conference in Chongqing on March Publishing Ltd’s website. Meetings were set up with Bo Xilai, the now disgraced former communist party leader. Trip not declared in register of interests.
November 17-21 2009: Beijing. A trip registered with ‘one other’ as well as a member of his staff, to participate in the China- EU Strategic Partnership forum. Trip paid for by March Publishing, Chinese accountancy firm Lehman Brown and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
September 1-10 2009: Hong Kong and China. Trip for Mr Prescott and ‘one other’ to attend a 48 Group reception in Hong Kong. Spoke at a dinner in Beijing and attended International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen.
April 11-16 2009: Chongqing. A £15,227 visit to further the relationship between Yorkshire and Chongqing. Flights, transfers and hotels were paid for by the Chongqing Overseas Foreign and Trade Economic Commission.
September 6-13 2008: Xiamen, Beijing and Mongolia. Attended the UK China Leadership of the Future Forum and toured Inner Mongolia. Flights and hotels paid for by the Chinese Government and the UK China Forum.