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The protesters who've gone missing as China deepens crackdown
BBC ^ | Tessa Wong & Grace Tsoi

Posted on 02/18/2023 8:58:05 PM PST by BenLurkin

As China declares victory over the pandemic, the landmark protests in November which spelled the end for zero-Covid rules have begun fading from memory.

But as the country moved on, many of those who took part in the demonstrations went missing, taken by authorities in a quietly deepening crackdown on dissenters.

Thousands rallied against restrictive Covid policies in the so-called White Paper protests, holding up blank white sheets in the dark. It was a rare show of criticism of the ruling Chinese Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping.

Police made few arrests at the time. Now, months on, scores of those protesters are in police custody, say Chinese activists, with one group estimating there have been more than 100 arrests.

International rights groups and foreign universities have called for their release. And activist groups have published lists naming the alleged detainees. This includes those who protested in Beijing as well as other cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Nanjing.

Chinese authorities have not responded to queries on the detentions. But through interviews with friends and lawyers, the BBC was able to verify the names of 12 people arrested in Beijing.

At least five of them have been released on bail. Among those still in custody, four women - Cao Zhixin, Li Siqi, Li Yuanjing and Zhai Dengrui - have been formally arrested for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble". This is a notoriously vague charge that carries a maximum sentence of five years, and one which critics say is often used to stifle dissent.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Government
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1 posted on 02/18/2023 8:58:05 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Are there any international groups lobbying for the release of the J6 Political Prisoners?


2 posted on 02/18/2023 9:02:33 PM PST by Nateman (If Mohammad was not the Anti Christ Mad Moe definitely comes in as a Strong second..)
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To: BenLurkin

Missing? Well, that is one way to say, “Executed and dumped in a ditch.”


3 posted on 02/18/2023 9:12:05 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: Nateman

“Are there any international groups lobbying for the release of the J6 Political Prisoners?”

None that I am aware of.


4 posted on 02/18/2023 9:17:24 PM PST by Bshaw (A nefarious deceit is upon us all!)
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To: Nateman

Are there any major American organizations lobbying for the release of the J6?


5 posted on 02/18/2023 11:00:22 PM PST by KittyKares
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To: BenLurkin

Are there January 6 protesters who went missing and are being held in Incommunicado?


6 posted on 02/19/2023 2:20:11 AM PST by rottweiller_inc (inter canem et lupum)
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To: BenLurkin

many of those who took part in the demonstrations went missing


Reports from inside China indicate that ALL of the protestors were rounded up and have disappeared.

Nice how this thread has been hijacked to Jan6.


7 posted on 02/19/2023 7:02:08 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: PIF

This country more and more resembles Communist China with each passing day.


8 posted on 02/19/2023 7:04:27 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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