McAleese urged to protect activists

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese was urged yesterday to raise the plight of human rights defenders being persecuted in China, during her State visit to the country.

As President McAleese begins a nine day trip to China, one of Ireland's foremost human rights campaigners called on her to address the Communist State's human rights record.

Frontline director Mary Lawlor highlighted the case of several campaigners who are suffering at the hands of the Chinese authorities. Frontline, set up three years ago, works to protect and defend human rights workers in danger across the world.