By James Murray
Lone pro-Tibetan protester and Green Party co-leader Russel Norman physically clashed with a Chinese delegation as they entered Parliament shortly after midday today.
In a statement just released by the Green Party, Dr Norman says he was assaulted by Chinese security personnel.
"I’ve laid a complaint with the Police because New Zealanders need to know they are free to speak without fear of violence or recrimination.”
Dr Norman said the Government needs to defend the right of its citizens to free speech because it is one of the cornerstones of democracy.
“I’m asking that John Key make a clear statement that this sort of behaviour is not acceptable in New Zealand,” Dr Norman said.
The delegation, led by visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, arrived at Parliament earlier today, to be greeted by a few dozen pro-Chinese supporters waving flags, but some of the group, believed to be Chinese security, took exception to Dr Norman waving a Tibetan flag and calling for democracy.
“Freedom for Tibet, freedom for Tibet,” he shouted.
“Why are there all these Chinese security guards here outside our Parliament?”
The MP brushed away attempts to have an umbrella placed in front of him and then clashed with security guards as they pulled the flag from his grasp and threw it on the ground.
“They elbowed me out of the way and then put an umbrella over the top of me and then took the flag away,” he said afterwards.
Once Chinese security had left him alone Dr Norman continued shouting.
“You can abuse human rights in China, but you can’t do it here. You might suppress freedom and democracy in China but you can’t do it here.”
After the fracas Dr Norman spoke to reporters.
“I think it is pretty outrageous that Chinese security can come to our country and push around an elected Member of Parliament – simply because we are standing up for democracy and freedom on our own Parliamentary grounds.
“I actually think a lot of the security seemed to be Chinese and the New Zealand security didn’t give much assistance.”
Mr Norman finished by saying he thought MPs and citizens should have the right to speak out in a peaceful way and that he would take his concerns to the speaker of the house.
"I will certainly be speaking to the Speaker of the House about whether its acceptable for a foreign country's security services to rough up a member of parliament on parliamentary grounds, I think that's totally unacceptable."
Dr Norman was following in the footsteps of late Green party co-leader Rod Donald, who also had a set-to with a Chinese delegation while protesting for Tibetan rights.
NZPA / 3 News