Criticism of VW chief Diess to Uighurs-Expression

VW has a factory in Xinjiang. Of violation of human rights of Uighurs there, he knew nothing, said VW's Diess-in-chief. There was fierce criticism. Because of course VW knows about it and has already expressed its opinion differently.

Steffen root, ARD Studio in Shanghai

Herbert Diess at the beginning of the week, at an event in the framework of the Shanghai auto show. A Reporter for the British TV channel BBC speaks to the Volkswagen boss on a sensitive topic: the systematic human rights violations in Xinjiang, in Northwest China. Background of the question: Volkswagen part operates for some years a factory in the Muslim country.

This will answer confidently: He was proud of the fact that Volkswagen is creating jobs in Xinjiang. What he is saying to camps for the internment, insists Reporter Robin Brant. And the fact that China's state and party leadership in these Camps, a Million Uighurs feshalte? He could not be the judge of that, says Deiss. He did not know what was meant by the question.

"The situation in the Xinjiang Region is known for,"

mainly of English-language media Interview-cutting was widespread in the past few days. The worldwide has sparked a wave of indignation. Cope, Wolfgang Büttner of Human Rights Watch, a human rights organization: "The situation in the Xinjiang Region is known by the media and by the international Public. It is truly frightening that the Lord says This to the BBC that he knew nothing about the re-education camp."

What lies behind the statement of Diess, was clear, say human rights activists: Because China is by far the most important market for Volkswagen, the attempts of the group there, everything, in order not to give offence, to avoid problems with the authorities. But also many German business people in China shaking the head over the Comments of the VW heads. You could address the abuses in China are very self-aware and with a backbone, if you hit the right tone, said a senior Manager of a large German group, the ARD-radio Shanghai.