Posted on 08/20/2008 8:30:48 AM PDT by reaganaut1
BEIJING Two elderly Chinese women have been sentenced to a year of re-education through labor after they repeatedly sought a permit to demonstrate in one of the official Olympic protest areas, according to family members and human rights advocates.
The women, Wu Dianyuan, 79, and Wang Xiuying, 77, had made five visits to the police this month in an effort to obtain permission to protest what they contended was inadequate compensation for the demolition of their homes in Beijing.
During their final visit on Monday, Public Security officials informed them that they had been given administrative sentences for disturbing the public order, according to Li Xuehui, Ms. Wus son.
Mr. Li said his mother and Ms. Wang, who used to be neighbors before their homes were demolished to make way for a redevelopment project, were allowed to return home but were told they could be sent to a detention center at any moment. Can you imagine two old ladies in their 70s being re-educated through labor? he asked. He said Ms. Wang was nearly blind.
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At least a half dozen people have been detained by the authorities after they responded to a government announcement late last month designating venues in three city parks as protest zones during the Olympics. So far, no demonstrations have taken place.
According to Xinhua, the state news agency, 77 people submitted protest applications, none of which were approved.
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The authorities, however, have refused to explain what happened to applicants who disappeared after they submitted their paperwork. Among these, Gao Chuancai, a farmer from northeast China who was hoping to publicize government corruption, was forcibly escorted back to his hometown last week and remains in custody.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Darn! It sure bothers me to hear that about my Chinese friends.
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Atleast they will have some company at the camps with all the bronze and silver medalists who are labeled national discraces by the government and made to apologize on tv for their failure.
The IOC really doesn’t care. They got a ton of bribes and lot of free hookers. All that matters to them. Russia was in dead last place up until a week before the selection announcement. God only knows what Putin sent their way and promised down the road, but it obviously worked.
No, that was Bush. He also said that the Chinese were making great strides in human rights.
What rubbish!
Clearly, the focus is on the Chinese-made products and parts. The question remains.
I agree with the focus on Chinese made products. I disagree with calling out Walmart as the only culprit. I do miss Sam Walton and his buy American first attitude that made Wal-mart.
If it comes to that, there will be bloodshed.
“Ah, the new China”
Its like the old one but with Starbucks and KFCs.
They would love to send us all to the “camps” to get us to “think right”.
But that pesky 2nd amendment...
Perhaps they should try to get rid of it first... oh yeah, they’ve been trying.
Wait! did I miss the women’s sand volleyball?
“I love Big Brother!”
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