Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Newsvine
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiChina Slams Jail Door on Olympic Dissent
BEIJING-In the darkest of ironies, as the Olympic torch was lit in Athens yesterday, a court in China sentenced a man to five years in prison after he dared to say the principle of human rights is more important than the Olympic Games.Unemployed former factory worker, Yang Chunlin, 54, gathered more than 10,000 signatures on a petition last year, appealing against illegal seizures of land from poor farmers by powerful local officials in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang.
The petition letter began: "We want human rights, not the Olympics."
Yang was promptly arrested July 6 and charged with trying to subvert state power - a broad charge frequently used against those who openly criticize the government.
After Yang's trial last month - which lasted less than a day - Sophie Richardson of Human Rights Watch said she feared that, "soon it will be official that objecting to the Olympics is a crime in China."
In fact, prosecution of outspoken Chinese citizens has picked up pace in the final months before the Games.
Yang's is the third case of a well-known dissident to come before the courts in recent weeks.
Last month, democracy activist and writer Lu Gengsong was sentenced to four years for "inciting to subvert state power."
And last week well-known activist Hu Jia was hauled before the courts, but he has yet to be sentenced.
Hu Jia is perhaps best-known for his work in helping HIV/AIDS victims. He and his wife Zeng Jinyan had been kept under house arrest for months in Beijing, before he was finally arrested on Dec. 27.
Yang Chunlin's 5-year sentence yesterday, comes only weeks after Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, publicly scoffed at suggestions that any citizen might be sentenced for saying human rights were more important than the Olympics.
"People in China enjoy extensive freedom of speech," Yang told reporters during an official visit by British Foreign Minister David Milibank. "No one will get arrested because he said that human rights are more important than the Olympics. This is impossible.
"Ask 10 people from the street to face public security officers and ask them to say `human rights are more important than the Olympics' 10 times or even 100 times, and let's see which security officer would put him in jail."
During Yang's time in jail, the group China Human Rights Defenders claimed he was chained for days in a fixed position and forced to clean the waste of other inmates.
Yesterday, as Yang was being led away from court, a scuffle broke out between police and his family, and Yang was pushed to the floor and shocked with electric batons, according to his lawyer Li Fangping.
Yang now has 10 days to decide whether he will appeal, Li told The Associated Press.
While Yang was being sentenced in China, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge was insisting to reporters in Athens that it was "right" to have awarded the Olympic Games to China, saying the event would act as a "catalyst" for change.
He said it wasn't in his or the IOC's job to dictate directives to a sovereign state, or to engage it in political discussions.
Still, human rights campaigners decried the yesterday's sentencing.
"Yang Chunlin's 5-year sentence darkensthe lighting of the Beijing Olympics torch," Sharon Hom of Human Rights in China, told the Star from New York.
"Imprisonment for peacefully expressing your views - protected by the Chinese Constitution and international human rights law - undermines any claim to the `human rights' progress cited IOC President Jacques Rogge," she said.
China has made it clear that it will not brook any embarrassing protests highlighting political or social problems during the Games.
But human rights campaigners have vowed to seize the opportunity to protest while the world's eyes are on China.
© 2008 The Toronto Star
34 Comments so far
Show AllBtw, I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who lived in Asia for 3 years...
Universal Human Rights is the radical notion that ALL human beings have intrinsic worth and are therefore as worthy of being treated with dignity as anyone, regardless of any distictions like race, gender, religious preference, sexual preference, or whether one human being grew up in far eastern Asia or another one in Western Europe. Regardless of whether your brutish, slave-driving, war-mongering, greedheaded ruling elite have the last names of Bush or Jintao. Regardless of whether said elite rob, jail, or execute you in the name of Western individualism or Eastern collectivism.
Is there anything about this statement you don't get, yapchong? I await your reply just as soon as you're done with your little trip to the goddamned mall...
Surprized that Common Dreams gives space for a traditional rendition of the U.S. kettle calling the Chinese pot black. Governing a fifth of the population of the world will always produce a certain amount of abuses.
Abuses brought to light certainly helps safeguard humanity in general, but if the mote in the other's eye is pointed out to distract attention from the beam in the eye of the one pointing - well..?
However, not a bad article - has some balance, plus the comment citing Parenti.
But there is a tinge of that ol' capitalism searching to discredit commnunism, even when it is only barely still alive as an economic alternative to the former.
jay janson
To a large degree, the Chinese are unable to self criticize (look in the mirror) or hear criticism. You may think I am generalizing, but I base this upon a decade of experience in China, involving a multitude of both professional and personal relationships. The argument that the U.S. is guilty of crimes does not mean its citizens lose their right to speak up for human rights around the world. People in the U.S. who criticize others for their human rights abuses ALSO criticize the U.S. PEOPLE EVERYWHERE HAVE THE RIGHT to stand up for human rights, REGARDLESS of nationality or citizenship. The difference is, in the U.S. we self-criticize and have the right to do so. Many of us are at odds with the government, and we try to change things. Although there is the MSM, alternative news is available. Try to find a site like Common Dreams in China. (Interesting how people, such a yap.chongyee, rail against the West via sites that would be banned in China, and say things about the West that, if they said in/about China, they would be put in prison for saying.)
Chinese people are so intensely nationalistic; they are ready to fight upon the first criticism. This is due to decades of "re-education" and other factors. Also, there is a difference between 'citizens' and 'government'. While Bush lies (and apparently Hillary), the people and news in the U.S. can point it out and are themselves (the people) quite honest in their day to day living. In China, you do not have the right to criticize (whether it is the government, at work, or in the family) and in the daily living, people lie regularly. I live there and have lived there and worked for many, many years. I know. Lying is part and parcel of life and - the strange thing is - it is not considered lying. It is considered being smart and capable - doing what is necessary to win. It's all about winning. An extremely oft' spoke idea in China is that Westerners, especially Americans, are naïve. Again, in China, it's all about winning.
If you think what I am saying is not correct, move to China and find out for yourself. Also, all you have to do is look at the 'canned' rhetoric from Yap, and other Chinese apologists, and notice the intense hostility and name-calling they use, to understand my points.
Don't get me wrong, I love China and Chinese people in so many ways, but that doesn't mean they are beyond reproach, hardly! I also love the U.S. and its people and I criticize my own country intensely and often. One thing you may notice, with posters like Yap, is that if you make a criticism of China, they will NEVER respond directly or substantively to the criticism, they will only throw verbal stones at you.
USAn; Taoism is relatively 'fringe' in China, as Confucianism has dominated. Unfortunately, the spiritual aspects of Confucianism have been lost and the idea of obeying the 'father' has been twisted into the idea that the Communist Party is the father and the biological father is the second father, so people are doubly f****d. Almost no one dares to criticize, having found no benefit in it. If you criticize in the workplace, even legitimately, you will likely lose your job. It is also difficult to swallow the idea that you have been lied to your entire life – even in America.
Human rights is an American & British construct to demonise successful developing nations that had become independant from colonial rule. Did you in the west know of human rights when you colonised the third world ? Did you in the west tout human rights when Malaya was a colony of Britain ? I grew up under a British colonial regime,I can testify that the British exploited our people and turn the Malays against the Chinese on a divide and rule bullshit !
The problem with you in the west is that you can feel NO SHAME ! You lie and lie and lie and you are sufficiently naive to believe your own lies and think that we too are too stupid to know that you are a bunch hypocrites and liars.
If you westerners have any remorse, why don't you INTRISPECT on your own record of abuse of human rights like when the Nazis gased 6 million jews ? Like President Bush did the "rendition thing", like the wholesale slaughter of 1,000,000 and more of Iraqi civilian in an illegal war of choice and aggression on a helpless third world nation on a pretext that is too shameful to mention for the sole purpose of stealing Iraqi oil !
Just think about it. I am going shopping with my family.
USAn, I agree with you, when you say the Olympics should be held in Greece, they made a good show in Athens, and it is the spiritual home. I do not think that sport should be dragged into politics - like the boycott of the Moscow games.
I would also say, that we in the UK and US do not have the right to criticise any other nation for human rights abuses, when you look at Iraq and Afghanistan.
What makes us think that we can dictate to China, over their methods in putting down demonstrations, when we have been responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths in the Middle East.
Just remember, that we have the London games in 2012, something which I was initially overjoyed at. Now, I can only wonder at our two faced approach to China, particularly when our leaders and industry giants, have been quite happy to cosy up and appear best buddies.
For Yap.chongyee.
Why do you defend a regime that plays with your mind and destroys your ability to think? Chinese are smart and intelligent until it comes to their freedom and right to individual thought. See how it has worked on you? Your country imprisons millions and you agree with it. Why? What are you afraid of?
Screw your Olympics. I hope they fall right on their face, which will then be red, not yellow.
" USAn March 25th, 2008 11:05 am
... (Well, in the case of Colombia, the corporations do that too)"
YEAH, INCLUDING U.S. corporations employing cold-blood mercernary, i.e., paramilitary, forces. Chiquita, f.e.
" rebelnow March 25th, 2008 11:44 am
If this article was about dissenting Tibetans, and the Chinese suppression of that dissent, the China apologists would be lining up to bash the Tibetans and their plea for autonomy.
Let's see what they have to say today."
WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT I CAN do to fill in your request, mr self-rigtheous rebelnow.
*) They're not the same issues; the contexts differ.
My criticism in terms of the Tibetan protests and the People's Republic of China's govt crackdown did not support oppression of Tibetans' rights, but consisted of concerns based on the [reality] that the CIA has been long involved there, the Dalai Lama was, for a time anyway, on the CIA's payroll, and two of his brothers worked for the CIA, definitely including in Tibet. And then there are the U.S. N.E.D., and so on. Taking all of this into account, in addition to what I've since learned about some 'Free Asia' or 'Free East Asia', some such named group anyway, and it being a CIA [front], well, it fits with my concern about the 'Free Tibet' movement groups; as I posted on a few times over the past few days here.
That alone makes the two contexts starkly different; not comparable in terms of who, what citizens, the PRC govt is oppressing. The oppression is wrong or too harsh in both cases, but the contexts nonetheless differ in important ways; and that should not be ignored even if we place the right to free speech or simply human rights as top-priority issue. After all, if my concerns about the Tibetan context turned out to be true in terms of the March 14th-17th protests, then you should be pointing fingers perhaps most of all at the U.S. govt.
That wouldn't apply in terms of what the article this page is for is about.
*) The population of China knows the govt there would surely crack down on protests regarding the Olympics. Those are obviously enough not something the PRC govt is going to toss out or away. And the PRC govt has considerable track record of oppressing protest demonstrations, so, and again, the people there know what kind of govt reaction to expect.
That doesn't make the oppression right, but the people there can't say that they don't have a lot of reason to expect the oppression.
*) The U.S. govt arrested four peaceful demonstrators at an anti-war demonstration in San Francisco when they put up a safe banner on the Bay Bridge. And many others have been arrested during protests in the USA over the past several years; mostly all peaceful, nonviolent demonstrators.
*) Here's an excellent and very resource-supported article for "food for thought":
"Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth
by Dr. Michael Parenti
Global Research, November 18, 2007
Michael Parenti Politcal Archive - 2007-01-02"
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7355
And here's a "bonus" article:
"Day of Infamy: The March 20, 2008 US Declaration of War on Iran
by John McGlynn
Global Research, March 24, 2008
japanfocus.org"
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8429
That doesn't have an links in it, but the original, which is linked in the JF homepage today, does. To look for it, the title is the same, minus 'Day of Infamy:'.
Both of those articles are important, while the latter one by John McGlynn is more urgent; like very.
I don't know if you've noticed or not, but China is nowhere near as criminal as the U.S. [is].
It's important to support human rights everywhere, however there's also a sound basis to the concept of setting PRIORITIES, and getting them "straight".
And there's sound reasoning behind the establishment of the principle, if not law, that wars of aggression, so against peace, constitute [the] [supreme] crime. Given that I seriously agree with this principle, these wars will be what I treat as top priority issue.
It is totally unacceptable to commit deadly injustice against a single individual, but it's still and far worse to commit genocidal war. Well, unless a person happens to be of the false Jewish order of the bad Talmud (the bad, not good or saner Talmud, which is the one primarily used and known), and in which there's a rule or law stating that one of these "Jews" killed by a Muslim or another of us goyems merits that 1,000 of us be killed in revenge.
I'm definitely not of that view and consider genocidal wars of aggression [surpeme] among all crimes.
China is not going to be rejecting the Olympics happening there; not likely anyway. Given that this is obvious and it's not criminal like the U.S. is, as well as Israel too, the people of China should just let the Olympics happen and thereby keep themselves safe from oppressive govt (re)actions. They're not going to be able to stop the Olympics from happening.
"Americans" should make stopping their, our govt in its most extreme criminality, which happens to be exacted all over this planet; not in only one country, but all over this planet.
The above article on the March 20th declaration of war against Iran provides an additional example, of the U.S. govt gangsterishly corrupting corruptible, easily prone European govts. The article is not about military war on Iran, but nonetheless is about economic warfare of an extreme that will be very nearly as destructive and for ALL of Iran. It'll surely have worldwide ramfications of serious significance too.
WE ARE SWAMPED already with the U.S. govt's most extreme criminality. The Chinese and all other peoples should make this the top priority, instead of going haywire because of the Olympics. Their protests will be of value with respect to this upcoming, and fast, war on Iran.
Funny but tragic rumiluv. I've been wondering what will happen when the US economy tanks, as it it about to, and all those Chinese products sit in the ports of Shanghai and elsewhere with nowhere to go. What will the millions of rural people, who have recently flocked to the industrial centers, do?
China is so popular in our corporate state because they are winners in an event that does not appear on the olympic card; the race to the bottom!
yap.chongyee March 25th, 2008 12:32 pm:
"I really do not want to say the word because I really detect a tinge of jealousy coming out of the west press and people"
Hi yap.chongyee, There is a saying "you are barking up the wrong tree". You are pursuing a false premise. The people around the world, whom you hear, protesting the situation in Tibet and in China, are not motivated by jealousy. For "the west", the Olympics are a little "old hat", i.e. developed nations aren't so concerned with the artificial pomp of the games and for those that are, it is not jealousy that moves them.
China has an abysmal human rights record. If you care to look, you will find horror stories galore on the subject of how the Chinese state treats its citizens. All of that, however, is beyond the scope of my comment here. What I really want to talk about is you?
Why did you post here? Is it just to defend the honour of China or are you at all interested in human rights?
BBC reports that users in China can now access it's website after restrictions were mysteriously relaxed.
Over 17000 users have accessed stories concerning Tibet and the upcoming Olympics.
The BBC is unable to determine whether China's official Internet policy has altered or if access is a result of an accident.
Criticism of China aside, I am quite saddened to see the modern Olympics become such a political football. People should vigorously express their dissent, but they should do it anywhere and everywhere except at the olympics.
Maybe we need a stateless, international Olympic district established somehwere as permanent venue for the olympics. No more playing of the medalists' national anthems either.
Or, we can base the summer Olympics permanently in Greece and the winter olympics in Norway - two nice progressive, but innocuous countries with little colonialist or opressive historical baggage.
BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS !
FREE TIBET AND THE CITIZENS OF CHINA !
I really do not want to say the word because I really detect a tinge of jealousy coming out of the west press and people; China a third world nation going thunders with our Olympics. The best ever Olympics and you just drool at spitting out venom by comparing our Olympics with the 1936 Munich Olympics; but then you forget to remind yourselves that Munich is all about THE BLOODY WHITE ARAYAN RACE", and China is not bloody white, we are yellow !
Yes--it will be interesting to see. Do Chinese get upset if the West criticize China for how they treat them--or do they accept that their country is incredibly oppressive? you could just as easily have protestors put out a banner at the Olympics that says Free China. Chinese need freedom from their government just like Tibet.
China is a scary country but the West perpetuates this problem by investing in it.
Chinese do brave their country's oppression-but they end up like Yang Chunlin.
The Olympics are a joke. Such a joke.
I hope China gets embarrassed at the Olympics.
The signs are looking good right now.
If this article was about dissenting Tibetans, and the Chinese suppression of that dissent, the China apologists would be lining up to bash the Tibetans and their plea for autonomy.
Let's see what they have to say today.
I don't want to sound like a sino-phobe, but the entire Chinese nation (up to even the tacky archetecture sprouting in it's cities) is starting to look like just an enormous, sterile, amoral, hyper-materialistic, multinational corporation - except in place of just firing it's "troublemakers", they go to jail, or get executed. (Well, in the case of Colombia, the corporations do that too)
What parts of their ancient culture is left in China? Totally aside from the justice of their actions, are there any Chinese left who are aware what their Lao Tsu wrote about how a "leader" should effcetively lead?
Any comments from Chinese (if they allow you to access this site) or westerners who frequent China would be welcome.
Think Globally and Act locally if you want to make real change.
The Olympics is not the place to fight or argue about anything but sports.
"This world will be saved by millions of small things"
Pete Seeger
I agree with that we all together can do better...and since everything is connected, we need to focus on our own responsibilities and fix our own human rights failures and mass slaughter.
If we showed some progress I will guarantee you we would impress China and they would not be so sensitive to criticism...
But when you call China bad names, it does not make you a better fighter for human rights at all.
We could ALL do better. As in every one of us in this human race. All 6 billion, and counting. That's what I hear most people on this thread saying.
That's what you might call a common dream. Our task, should we choose to accept it, is to dream hard enough so that our noblest dreams affect and shape our reality.
So speak up, as the bumper sticker says, even if your voice shakes. That's what Yang Chunlin did, and that's what the anti-war protesters here in America did. We have that in common. We all support them in their bravery. We've got their backs, even if all that looks like is a post on a web site, or a prayer, or when you're ready, an action.
The choice is yours; it is ours...
Bobpomeroy,
I don't see China using the USA as a model at all... they are just better at capitalism and Socialism (mixed economy) than we are because they have control of their economy and we are slaves to foreign Corporations who are now joining China's model because they see who the winners are.
My simple question for the China bashers who openly say they want the Olympics to fail is "If the USA had five times it's population, could we do any better?"
If that makes me an apologist, fine, but I consider myself a sympathizer to China because of the western Imperialism it is overcoming... so sue me.
China is a very nationalistic Nation... OK, so sue them.
One China Basher poster who dared me to sympathize with China said when Our economy fails what will happen to all those Chinese goods....
I think you should be more worried about our own economy and end our blowing up innocent people all over the planet before worrying about who will buy China's goods because they will find customers don't you worry they will sell them for sure.
You see here in America the government wants you to hate and criticize the government because they are not in control of the economy...the international Corporations are in control and until we have a peaceful revolution that will take our freedom to have some control back, you will bash China so that you will feel some power because bashing the USA has gotten you nowhere.
The Chinese are determined to have a successful Olympics so that is why they over react and their economy is the number one national security issue....
The USA's number one issue is how to keep the losing racket of war alive.
The USA arrested hundreds of protesters last week who were protesting our killing of millions of innocent people around the world.
China has many human rights problems...and with their history of being oppressed by the big western powers that is natural.
So if ya want to get feisty with me go ahead I am pretty feisty too.
But first before I respond, consider China's history and answer this "if the USA had five times the population, could we do any better?"
I am a Chinese but I'm not here in order to defend the honor of my country. What I really care about is the future and best interest of the people in China. The truth is, almost EVERY CHINESE here knows that we are not living in a democratic country. Also, we understand the tremendous sacrifice we need to pay for a harmonious (even artificially) society. But after long suffered by imperialism bully– from the Opium War to the invasion of the Japanese, we learnt if a country is weak and backward, it would be beaten by others. That's why we make stability and development our first priority at this moment.
More than 2, 600 years ago, the Chinese philosopher Guan Tsu said that "When the granary is full people start to know courtesy; when people don't need to worry about food and clothing they would know honor or disgrace." This may sounds a bit too materialistic, and we come to realize prosperity is only a necessary but not sufficient condition for a civilized society. However, freedom is not achieved overnight and you can't expect a country struggling in poverty and social turmoil to enjoy perfect democracy.
If you do care about China, like many of you claimed, stop cursing or insulting it – give constructive suggestions and lead by example.
I see China is using the US as a model. It's worked for them so far hasn't it?
yap.chongyee made some valid points.
Many western nations - specifically their governments and especially the United States - are hardly in a historical position to criticise China.
The US's slaughter of Iraqis dwarfs anything China does domestically.
And lets not forget that it is the Unites States that has, by far, the greater prison population on earth, in spite of only quarter the number of people. Most are imprisoned for offenses that would not normally lead to imprisonment if it weren't for their black skin, or poverty - leading to the conclusion that our prisons - like racism - is largely a ket part of our brutal economic system.
The US executes a lot of people - something banned in the civilized world - including, no doubt, a significant number if innocent people - especially if their skin is dark. But not as many as China.
BUT, having said the above, when we are speaking out against the Chinese Government's human rights violations, undemocratic domestic policies, it's adoption of the most savage aspects of Capitalism, and it's forgetting of the wisdom of it's ancient philosophers, we are speaking out as individuals, or as world-citizens, not as spokespersons for our governments.
So, our criticism is still valid.
Hi yap.chongyee,
I think I know you :-)
-desoc
The Olympics: Of course we cannot avoid the fact that they have become purely an expression of political and commercial interests. They are just a chance for Adidas and Coca Cola and some self important sociopaths to promote themselves on the backs of slave wages in China, Viet Nam, or Haiti, sweat shop labour, controlled cotton or corn prices, tee shirts or breakfast serials, and a culture of consumption and waste engendered by marketing, advertising and poisoning the world; Slavery on the backs of the elite, the best and the brainless, driven from childhood through a system of trainers, diets, yes, and drugs, to pretend that modern day gladiators in their quest for a 10th of a second in the pool or on the track is any different from the "stables" and the "games" of Rome, given to the populous to keep their minds well off reality and far from questioning their rulers and their abuse of power.
Reality is the slavery that an elitist system, Capitalist or Communist, pretends to offer. These activists and their voices are imprisoned because they have the courage to answer a simple question with a decision. "Can I accept that my fellow human being is enslaved by this system of elite, their power, and their greed?" They have answered that they reluctantly have to accept their fate in prison, because they cannot accept the greater injustice they see.
Even the jailer and the torturer are themselves prisoners. I am always moved by an experience that the Dalai Lama relates in his book "Ethics for the new Millennium", about a monk Lopon-la, who was from his own monastery Namgyal, and with whom he was reunited after that monk, then older but otherwise seemingly unscathed by his experience of having been tortured and often held in solitary confinement for many long years in Tibet by the occupying Chinese forces, was finally released and managed to escape to Dharamsala, India, where he met again his august but always humble inquisitor who asks him, "How did you manage to endure so much for so long? Where you ever afraid?"
Lopon-la's answer never fails to fill me with inspiration. He answers, "There was one thing that scared me sometimes, I must admit", he said, "the possibility I might loose compassion and concern for my jailers."
We are all free, yet we build our own jail. If you can personally realise this you can suffer to tear down your own confinement and find the compassion for others helpless to find their own way out.
Yappie,
I haven't glibly referred to anything. And frankly, your questions seem to indicate that you have some difficulty with rational, cogent thought.
Anyway, here's the relevant Article from the UN's Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, of which China is a signatory:
Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Are you done shitting yet?
I breathlessly await your reply.
I will be back, I am watching TV (cctv 9 of course); but you still have not answered my question. I will come around in good time.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE NOT ANSWERED MY QUESTION !
Yap; you've been gone a while, I guess bie1 si3 ni3 le.
You are a real nut case. There is not even a significant relationship between the topic of "free speech" as a right of citizens, and a prisoner in solitary confinement or a person who signs an agreement not to talk publicly about sensitive information in the workplace BEFORE they take the job! Are you just nuts?
The topic is "free speech" for citizens in general as well as the right to free speech in the media or public forums. As I said earlier, you cannot even blog on a site like Common Dreams in China, because such a site would be banned. So why don't you just stick to the websites allowed in China, if China is so great?
Look at the article above that is the topic of this thread!
'Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, publicly scoffed at suggestions that any citizen might be sentenced for saying human rights were more important than the Olympics.'
The Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, then went on to say;
"People in China enjoy extensive freedom of speech," Yang told reporters during an official visit by British Foreign Minister David Milibank. "No one will get arrested because he said that human rights are more important than the Olympics. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE."
And yet, only WEEKS LATER, Yang Chunlin was sentenced to five years in prison for doing exactly what the Chinese Foreign Minister said Yang Chunlin could do!!!
The topic is free speech for citizens, not the rights of prisoners in solitary confinement. You are truly representative of the worst of Chinese people. Fortunately, you are in the minority, as most Chinese people are wonderful people.
It is people like you that give China a bad name, with your ignorance and hateful rhetoric.
One question; how much time have you spent in the West?
Maybe you could visit Hollywood, in your fake Nikes, your wife with her fake Louis Vuitton bag, and take your kids to Disneyland, which I bet they love. After all, in Hollywood, perhaps you could visit the sound stage that Neil Armstrong went to to "fake" the moon landing, as you alleged the other day. Ni3 tai4 ben4 le.
Da4ren2 shuo1hua4 de shi2hou, xiao3hair2 bu2yao4 cha1zui3. Ni3 xiao3 de shi2hou hua4guo di4tu2 ma?
Anyone watch the video posted above? It contains some truths.
1. This is what you get when a savvy but un-evolved demon farmer like Mao gains control of such a populous country, which used to be admirable in many ways (centuries ago), and then chases out, kills, or imprisons all of the scholars, educators, artists, intellectuals, philosophers, and social thinkers – all the intelligent people – and turns the country over to teenage peasants, who are encouraged to turn in their own parents, and then "re-educates" them with lies, hate, false pride, propaganda, and visions of superiority. Add to that, 50 years of "re-education", prosperity, and a large military and what you end up with is a true world menace. China is like the stupid schoolyard bully who flaunts his stupidity and muscle with pride.
2. America and the rest of the world have good reason to be concerned about what will happen when this "sleeping giant" of a bully awakes. China is dangerous. It's 1.5 billion masses of people are uneducated and arrogant, dishonest and dangerous. Less than 2% of the students in China ever go to college!!!
3. All one has to do is watch the video above to see just how uneducated, unsophisticated, hostile, arrogant, and dangerous the Chinese are.
What it does not show you is;
1. Every day in China, there are THOUSANDS of demonstrations across the country, wherein poor peasants speak up against corruption, land thievery, and human rights oppression.
2. Educated people in China, quietly (very quietly) refer to the "beloved chairman mao" as a "demon".
yap.chinkee; like they said above, you don't ever seem to reply to a clear issue, you just spout "shit".
Hello Drift March ! I HAVE ONLY ONE QUESTION TO ASK YOU AND AFTER YOU HAVE REPLIED TO MY QUESTION, WILL I ANSWER TO YOUR POST.
THE QUESTION : "If the USA & the west HAVE WHAT YOU SO GLIBLY CALL FREEDOM OF SPEECH & EXPRESSION, THEN TELL ME IF AN INMATE OF A PRISON IN solitary confinement have the right to free speech ?' Likewise, Have persons working in the Pentagon have freedom of speech ? Likewise, Have people like "WEN HO LEE" got freedom of expression ? Likewise have the people in the R & D Section of GE of MacDonald Dauglas Air craft working on the latest sensitive research on your bullshit "Raptor" F/22 fighter aircraft have freedom of speech & expression ?
I will first do a shit and then after dinner will reply to your bullshit !
http://glumbert.com/media/hahahaamerica
If the Olympics went ahead without protest but there were no spectators, that would get China's attention. (And the athletes wouldn't lose their investment in training and competition.) If Americans and other fuel gluttons had actually bought fuel efficient cars in the 1970s and changed patterns of oil consumption, America wouldn't need to be in Iraq right now. Big corporations have lots of money because we buy their products. If we've "met the enemy and he is us", how can we co-operate enough to modify the consumer behaviors that threaten the ecosystem and enslave us to global corporates?