15 Feb 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
Chinese authorities have told the US human rights group, the Dui Hua Foundation, that Gao Zhisheng – a human rights lawyer who has been missing for more than a year – is in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Zhisheng’s case has drawn international attention due to the unusual length of his disappearance. John Kamm, the foundation’s executive director, said the news was a “tentative step in the right direction toward accountability”, but many questions still needed to be answered such as “What is he doing there? How long has he been there?”
12 Feb 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo’s‘s appeal against a 11-year prison sentence rejected by a court in Beijing. Liu was convicted six weeks ago on charges of subversion, to widespread international condemnation. Roseann Rife, the deputy director for Asia and the Pacific at Amnesty International said, “His harsh sentence is a stark reminder to the Chinese people and the world that there is still no freedom of expression or independent judiciary in China.” Read Liu’s final statement to the court.
The denial of Liu’s appeal is another signal that China’s leaders are unwilling to tolerate greater pluralism.
Yesterday, a 20-year-old factory worker who joined a banned political party because he was unhappy with one-party rule was sentenced to jail for 18 months. A court in Shenzhen found Xue Mingkai guilty of subversion of state power because he joined the US-based China Democracy party last April.
05 Feb 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
Police have referred to prosecutors the case of a father who campaigned over the 2008 melamine milk contamination. Zhao Lianhai, whose own child was made ill by the melamine contamination, is accused of trying to provoke social disorder. He has been detained by police since November. Chinese officials have since banned independent reporting on the latest toxic food scandal involving the chemical blamed for the deaths of six babies in 2008.
04 Feb 10 | Index Index, minipost
China has warned the Swiss government that its decision to grant asylum to two Chinese Uighurs currently detained in Guantanamo Bay will harm relations. Switzerland’s justice minister said the decision to take the brothers was guided by humanitarian principles and should not be interpreted as giving preference to one country over another. The Obama administration has sought to resettle Uighurs in third countries for fear they may be persecuted if sent back to China.
