Knowsley council are showing once again that money is no object when it comes to globetrotting freebies. Nor are human rights abuse issues much to worry about. This time, they want to send half a dozen of Knowsley Council off to China. They want to twin Knowsley with Nanning, a City in the so called 'Peoples Republic' China. Right now, Knowsley is twinned with Staed Moers, a German Town. It seems the annual jaunts to Germany are becoming boring, and after all, you can pick up a cheap flight on Easyjet for less than the price of a pair of trainers.

China has a lot of Human Rights abuses which it seems content to continue participating in. Only 15 years ago, the students and teachers of China, and the workers who supported them, were viciously mown down by the Red Army as columns of tanks were called in and one of the Worlds most harrowing videos was shown as a single Chinese student stood up to the might of the Red Army Tanks. That student, as history records, was crushed seconds after the video still below.

The Chinese Government still thinks it done no wrong and continues to harass the mothers and supporters of those killed at Tiananmen Square and those imprisoned. This is a story Kirkby Times has ran for over two years. Is China really the sort of Country we want to be twinned with? China also has sickening 'execution rallies', staged events were local school kids, workers and any surrounding villagers are bussed into suitable places to witness the condemned being given his sentence in public before they are driven to a quiet place to be shot in the head. The execution itself is not public. The price of the bullet is charged to the family of those executed. As ever, the poor are the people being killed. Though some of the crimes committed may well be grave crimes, the Chinese can be shot for fraud, robbery and other crimes which most of us would likely see as deserving of a custodial sentence. The legal system there is a shambles and rife with secrecy and corruption.

Below, this Chinese woman has been photographed seconds after being told she was sentenced to death for drug related offences. Perhaps a charge for which she would serve time in jail here in England. Her face reveals the sheer terror she feels, as she knows that once the death sentence is passed, she will be driven away immediately to be shot in the head. Do Knowsley Council think this is behaviour which we should be supporting? Will Ronnie Round or any of the others choose to even acknowledge this aspect of Chinese politics?

Liverpool Council Pave the Way.

Liverpool Council has already twinned with Shangai, and delegations have been back and forth whilst Liverpool's pensioners are kicked out of care homes due to lack of apparent funds. Meanwhile, houses in Liverpool have been discovered with dozens of Chinese illegal immigrants living in conditions not unlike those of Liverpool 100 years ago, 21 Chinese drowned collecting cockles and since then the trade has continued. By co-incidence, Kirkby Times has a lengthy article about China which will be put up in the next few days. China is blatantly ignoring International pressure and they are nuked up enough to be able to do what they want. China is the Worlds Sweatshop - ordinary Chinese are exploited on a scale which can be compared to England a century ago.

The Freeloaders in Waiting

Knowsley Council will be meeting tomorrow (4th Aug 2004) to assess the reports concerning this latest 'idea' by Knowsley Council, doubtless inspired by tales of China off there colleagues in Liverpool. The freeloaders lined up for the Slow Boat To China, or more likely a fast plane, are ….

Ronnie 'Grinalot' Round

Steve 'I serve the community' Gallagher

The Mayor Tom Quirk and his daughter, the Mayoress. (Tom served in the Navy so may prefer a ship)

Jo Millar, Director of Corporate Services.

Two Cabinet Members (You'd put money on old Keight to hitch a lift)

More Local Money to be spent on Foreign Trips for Council Officials

If the twinning is sanctioned it will mean the previous budget of £40,000, will have to be increased as Knowsley Council's Gravy Train stops off in far flung places like China. Given that the people of Knowsley are crying out for money to spent on various social facilities which are lacking in the working class communities, it seems to be another slap in the face off Knowsley council to the community. The twinning will bring us no new jobs, to the contrary, once Chinese business people and Government officials come to Knowsley, they will be able to offer contracts to local firms which will cut costs by 90% in some industries. It's already happening. How long are all those Call Centres going to stay here in Knowsley once the grants run out and China has cut price offers? The ordinary people of Nanning and Knowsley won't benefit in the least, but half a dozen freeloaders from the Republic Of Knowsley, can jet off to the Peoples Republic Of China and the freeloading Chinese politicians can slum it over here.

Knowsley Councils Disregard of Human Rights Abuses in China

Kirkby Times advises the Knowsley Council delegation to make there way to Tiananmen Square and shout out 'Justice for the Victims of Tiananmen Square'. As they are introduced to 'democracy' Chinese style and are bundled off to the cells, they may perhaps see that they are dealing with a Country which does not really understand the term 'Freedom of speech', or 'right to assemble' or 'peaceful protest'. You can be arrested for laying a single flower down in the Tiananmen Square. China executes the poorest generally and sometimes a few white collar workers are also shot, in a twist of Irony the former leader of Kirkby District Council and later Knowsley Council, Dave Tempest, would have possibly been shot for corruption instead of serving a year in jail here in good old England. But, corruption in China has often led to the Mr Bigs getting away with things.

Freeloading All Over The World

Kirkby Times believes that twinning towns is a nonsense which is basically a way to give little rewards to Council Officials - these trips so far by Merseyside councillors and various officials have included trips to Sweden, Germany, China, USA, South Africa and many other places besides. There are also many little trips in the UK - overnight stays in hotels, good meals in nice eating establishments. Treats for our elected leaders or the paid unelected officials. Sweeteners for keeping the old mouth shut, some may say.

Some of the Officials going on these freebies could well afford to pay for any trips out of there own considerable wages. May we suggest that if Knowsley Council want to extend the hand of friendship to people in other Countries, they pay for it like the rest of us have to do. Better still, buy a standard 'saveaway*' (*a cheap all day Merseyside travel ticket available from bus and train stations and post offices) for £2.20 and you can be in Chinatown in Liverpool in half an hour or so, a bus and a train is cheaper than sending these junket groupies off to China itself! Once there in Chinatown, they can 'greet' the local Chinese, who, I would wager, would likely be unimpressed at this 'mission to bond'. The Chinese would likely give our political 'greats' a wide berth just as I'd be giving a wide berth to any Chinese politicians crawling around Kirkby Town Centre, unless there was a protest. Previous demonstrations by people at a visit to the UK by Chinese President Jiang Zemin, saw the English police being given some sort of Chinese rules of engagement to stop demonstrators legally protesting. Pro-democracy banners and pro-Tibet flags were grabbed from protestors and confiscated with some protesters complaining they were wrestled to the ground by police. Kid glove treatment by Chinese standards.

Knowsley Council are extending the hand of friendship with a Country plagued with corruption and secrecy. Amnesty International state the following on there own websites section on China ……..

"Each year thousands of Chinese citizens are put to death under a legal system plagued with corruption and secrecy. While the rest of the world moves toward abolition, Chinese authorities only continue to expand the application of the death penalty. According to reports, an average of 15,000 people per year were executed, judicially or extrajudicially, by the government between 1997 and 2001.

I ask again, should be extending the hand of friendship to a Country which blatantly ignores human rights?

Links - Amnesty International Chinese Issues ; (here)

Note: Kirkby Times has no problem with the Chinese Community in Liverpool, a lot of them have fled China and realise that there Country is ruled by terrible people who have dark hearts and care nothing for the poor. We need only look to Tiananmen Square to see that the Chinese Authorities would not impress the good working class people of Liverpool. I find it disgusting to think that Knowsley Council will be smarming and charming the Chinese rulers. They should be protesting to them for there continuing refusal to listen to the people. But then again, Knowsley Council don't listen to the people either. They'll likely get on like a house on fire. Like meets like.

Knowsley Council are an absolute disgrace.

Note: The Lib Dems objected by stating 'they have reservations and that they will be seeking reassurances that the whole community will benefit.' I think its plain to see that the only people benefiting will be those who can open up the old photo album and show a few photos of them in China. The Knowsley 'delegation' may be turning there tans even more orange by spending a while under the Chinese Sun. Like the dark hearted Chinese leaders, they will care little for the troublesome matters like human rights.

Coming Soon - 'Capital of Slavery - Death In The Bay.' The story of how 21 Chinese cocklers drowned and how many others are victim to a slave labour culture which is growing in our Great City. Explains how class prejudice is the major force behind the slave trade, and how Liverpool's past is coming back to haunt us in 2004.