'Do not superimpose demo values on China'

Beijing, Apr 14: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has reportedly condemned attempts from the West to undermine the Beijing Olympics by talking of boycotting the Games opening, and opposed the West's 'superimposition' of democratic values and human rights on China.

He described China, a long time ally of Pakistan, as a typical example of development and progress. "We are extremely glad that preparations for the Olympic Games are so outstanding. We condemn any attempt by anyone to undermine the process of Olympic preparations, especially the Olympic torch (relay)," the China Daily quoted Musharraf as saying.

Over the past few days, there have been reports suggesting that pressure was mounting US President George Bush to boycott the Games as a mark of protest against China's policy on Tibet and the bad human rights scenario in the country. While the Republican presidential nominee John McCain called Bush to reconsider his decision to attend, the Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama also expressed their opposition last week.

Musharraf said: "First of all, we consider Tibet an inalienable part of China. If at all anyone is harboring or abetting the separatists, we condemn that. You cannot superimpose the human rights and democracy environment of a Western country onto other countries. That is the error that the West and the Western media makes. This does not work at all and this must stop."

He said in every country, human rights and democracy have to be tailored according to its own dynamics, which China is doing well. "The basic responsibility of any government is the security of the nation, progress and development, welfare and well-being of its people. Obviously this is being achieved (in China)," Musharraf said, and added: "I think China is a typical example of development and progress, the welfare and well-being of its people."

ANI