China Jails Woman Over Web Post

[Stone_Spirits]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3926936,00.html?=ticker

Report: China Jails Woman Over Web Post

Thursday April 1, 2004 7:46 AM


By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN

Associated Press Writer

SHANGHAI, China (AP) - A woman who posted an article on the Internet criticizing the way China's government handles public complaints has been sentenced to 18 months in a labor camp, a human rights group said Thursday.

Ma Yalian used several Chinese legal affairs Web sites to post the article documenting her fruitless efforts to petition over the destruction of her Shanghai home, New York-based Human Rights in China, or HRIC, said in a statement.

Ma described police violence and harassment of her and other petitioners, the group said. She said some protested by committing suicide outside government offices.

HRIC said Ma was sentenced on March 16 by Shanghai's Re-education Through Labor Management Committee. It said the committee accused her of ``falsely accusing Shanghai authorities of causing her physical injury,'' and having ``turned petitioning into pestering.''

-more-

[James T. Kirk]

1. The government of China sucks.

[Mari333]

2. Dont worry, we wont attack them, they have Nukes

we only take over and bomb small countries with oil and send our jobs to China.

[G_j]

4. yep

Walmart needs cheap goods. What is it now, 80% of our clothes come from China?

[bpilgrim]

3. how do you think they keep labor prices low

just the way we like'm :evilgrin:

peace

[Muddleoftheroad]

5. Another reason to support Taiwan

[truthspeaker]

6. yep

And Tibet too, but that won't happen.

[Muddleoftheroad]

7. True on both points

[Ripley]

8. But thank goodness Walmart has their purchasing HQ

located in China. What a great American Company!

[xchrom]

9. human rights in china off the agenda

sending more jobs to china -- good for the american economy.

[cleofus1]

10. so sad...

we should find out if we can send her stuff. chocolates, comic books, clothing or other toiletries and sundries. i spent a little bit of time in the can and believe me...care packages are very much appreciated. no shit.

[Muddleoftheroad]

11. More direct action

We should contact our legislators and demand action against China. Screw trade with that dictatorship.

[cleofus1]

12. hey muddle

I'll give you 100 dollars if that ever happens. For the most part no one in charge can afford to ignore China economically or politically. And no viable political party would be foolish enough to cut them off. They are the 800 pound gorilla in the room. And our choices are limited to unpleasant (but rational) ones. I probobly won't send this poor lady a care package but if some one gets an address I might. Any real change for China is not gonna come from a letter writing campaign in the U.S.. It's gonna come from within...with lots of sacrifice from people like this woman.

[Muddleoftheroad]

13. Only $100

Hell, you should give me $1 million.

Yes, I know it is unlikely, but even turning up the heat will make China behave in a more civilized way.

[cleofus1]

14. even 100 is a bit much for me

I suppose it's possible...but not probable..

[David__77]

15. China human rights improving.

If one is rooting to cut ties to China because of its human rights situation, then we should also cut ties to almost every country in Africa and Asia, Indonesia, the Philipines and other places with human rights problems.

I think things are slowly improving in China. This case is however a good example of the problems that do exist. If the central government is serious about stopping this sort of thing, it should reverse this verdict and reprimand the local officials who made it. Petitioning local officials has always been an area that the central government has tried to stress is open to citizens.

I cannot support trade sanctions or other actions that are specifically targeted at China. Wouldn't this require withdrawing from the WTO in any case, which is not likely at all?

The neo-conservatives have China in their sites not far down the list past the Middle East. The US absolutely must not carry out any military advanture under the guise of "human rights."

[cleofus1]

16. yesiree bob

You make sense there son. I still think we should send her some comic books and chocolate to pass the time...maybe a warm coat...gloves...shampoo...I know it sounds trite, but I still like the idea of sending her a care package...6 months is a long time to spend with concrete and steel.

[dArKeR]

17. Jackie 'Whore' Chan speaks up and tells the truth? NOT. Communist Puppet

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=446015#451171

[cleofus1]

18. a lot of good information there

my advice is not to call people whores. I suppose he may be one...but you make your argument well without the personal attack. Now if jackie were to call you a whore you would be justified in replying in kind. by the way...do you know how i could send this lady a package?

[David__77]

20. What's a Chinese patriot to do--agitate for US invasion?

If things come down to US versus China, most Chinese people, a whole lot of the Chinese diaspora, are going to pick China.

[tjwash]

19. We will be there soon if B* and his crime cartel doesn't get voted

out.