SelectPlusBush Criticizes Oppression Before Beijing VisitBush Criticizes Oppression Before Beijing VisitThe Associated PressPresident Bush praised the spread of freedom in Asia while training a harsh spotlight Thursday on the region's democratic laggards, sharply criticizing oppression and human rights abuses in China, Myanmar and North Korea. (Aug. 7)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [Notes:BEIJING]Just hours before his arrival in Beijing, and with all eyes on the kickoff of the Summer Olympics .. [Notes:Bush in receiving line-Thailand] .... President Bush has used some of his bluntest language yet to denounce China's human rights record. [Notes:Cutaways from Bangkok speech]To an audience in Thailand, he voiced "deep concerns" about the communist regime's continuing crackdown on dissent.BUSH SOT: "The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings. So America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates, and religious activists." FONT BANGKOK, Thailand [Notes:file of Hu] Bush acknowledged his words will likely irk China's leaders, but said he's convinced freedom will help China prosper. And he made a prediction.BUSH SOT: ``Change in China will arrive on its own terms and in keeping with its own history and traditions. Yet change will arrive.'' [Notes:NATS UP - dancers at Thai Mercy Center]Bush's speech came as he finished two days of visiting key U.S. allies South Korea and Thailand. [Notes:NATS Bush with kids at center] In the Thai capital, he toured a center for street kids and AIDs victims ... [Notes:Bush at luncheon with Myanmar dissidents]... and met with dissidents from neighboring Myanmar, using the session to chide THAT country's military rulers, too, about brutal repression in what HE still calls Burma.BUSH SOT: The American people care deeply about the people of Burma. And we dream for the day in which people will be free. [Notes:various olympic scenes] What remained to be seen was how blunt-spoken Bush would be during his four days in Beijing, where he's said his main goal will be to take part in the Olympic Games as a sports fan and longtime friend of China.MS, AP, Bangkok Author: AssociatedPress Keywords: bush asia criticizes oppression before beijing Added: August 7, 2008
