China complains to Australia about Uighur's visit

Rebiya Kadeer — who lives in exile in the United States — will attend the Melbourne International Film Festival on Aug. 8 for the premiere of a film about her life, "10 Conditions of Love." She denies being behind the violence this month between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese in the Xinjiang region that left nearly 200 dead.

She is to arrive in Melbourne next Wednesday and is scheduled to address the National Press Club in Canberra on Aug. 11 in a nationally televised speech before she returns to Washington, her host and film producer John Lewis said.

The complaints are the latest in a string of objections to the screening and Kadeer's appearance: Festival director Richard Moore said an official from the Chinese consulate in Melbourne asked him to withdraw the film about three weeks ago. Two Chinese directors have pulled their films in protest. The festival's Web site has also been hacked into — an attack Moore blames on his refusal to scrap the Kadeer film or her visit.

"I can confirm that the Chinese Embassy has made representations here in Canberra," a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman told The Associated Press under condition of anonymity, citing policy.

"The matter has been discussed several times, both in Canberra and Beijing," she said. "We do not ordinarily comment on the details of bilateral discussions."

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy said: "Facts have proven that the violent crime" that occurred in Xinjiang "was instigated, masterminded and directed by World Uighur Congress headed by Rebiya."

"We urge the international community not to provide any form of support or even encouragement for her separatist activities," the statement said.

"Rebiya Kadeer is a criminal convicted by the Chinese judiciary authorities for committing crimes that jeopardize national security and major economic crimes," it said.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement on Monday that China "expresses strong dissatisfaction" with the Japanese government for allowing the 62-year-old businesswoman to visit this week.

The festival closes on Aug. 9.