The incident ruffled official protocol, and led to an apology from President Bush, but a Chinese woman’s disruptive protest Thursday at a White House ceremony for Chinese President Hu Jintao was a reminder of China’s brutal political and religious oppression.
The woman (in photo) shouted support for Falun Gong, a meditation movement banned by Chinese authorities as an “evil cult.” Since 1999, China has jailed tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners; hundreds have been beaten, tortured or killed, according to Falun Gong supporters.
China’s dismal human rights record too often is swept under the rug by U.S. government and business leaders concerned with securing trade agreements.
In protesting the imprisonment of Falun Gong members in China, the woman likely will be charged with “attempting to intimidate, coerce, threaten or harass a foreign official in the performance of his duties, punishable by as much as six months in prison,” The Washington Post reported.
FYI: In private, Bush did talk to Hu about some specific human-rights cases, including North Korean asylum seeker Kim Chun Hee, aides said. And Bush asked about a list of Chinese political prisoners that he gave Hu during a meeting at the United Nations in September, and he gave him a new list of six detainees he hopes will be released, the Post reported.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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33 Comments
The Chinese government has probably killed close to 100 million people over the past 60 years but they are not a threat to israel and da jews so it don’t matter! rotflmosrfao
Viva La Raza Blanco!!
It is kinda hard to hammer someone else about their record on human rights, how they treat minority populations, the squashing of civil liberites, denying segments of the population equal protection under the law, etc…
when your own record sucks so bad.
None the less, why do we kiss up to china and kick sand in the face of other repressive regimes?
Someone said it here this week. If you are a fat enough trading partner, all is forgiven.
Sounds like kansas moral values. It all depends on the money.
Also, China could fight back if we tried to invade.
Ben, you mean unlike the guys we “rolled through” in iraq?
One reason Falun Gong is so popular in China is that the meditation this group practices has health benefits; which is important in that country because they have such a limited health care infrastructure.
As I understand it this brave woman was making a frantic plea for help!
To george bush?
She must not know much about him! He doesn’t care about human rights abuses in China or anywhere else.
Oh he will TALK about them.As long as you don’t mention any of his failings in this area.
You know Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, etc. etc.
That explains alot about why they are persecuted and called a cult DD.
Slave laborers who meditate aren’t as productive.Bad for China’s realations with Wal Mart.
So speaking out and embrassing a brutal dictator is a crime now?
Ask Cindy Sheehan pancho!
GW in his State of the Union Address–
“At the start of 2006, more than half the people of our world live in democratic nations. And we do not forget the other half — in places like Syria and Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran — because the demands of justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom, as well. (Applause.)”
Notice the non-democracies who DIDN’T make the list: Nepal (no oil), China (huge trading partner who owns us), Saudi Arabia (repressive feudal monarchy, but they’ve been very good to the Bush family), Pakistan (hey, they’re fighting against terror, kind of), Uzbekistan (they were our allies until we complained about their lack of civil rights), Israel (where a lot of Palestinians are not allowed to vote, being non-Jews).
Actually, compared to Saudi Arabia and China, Iran is fairly democratic. They do have elections there for multi-party candidates.
[sarcasm]
Of course it was Bush who ordered the mistreatment of prisoners in Abu Ghraib, right JR?
Not giving everyone in Guantanamo bay an ACLU lawyer is mistreatment to you…
[sarcasm]
Besides undervalueing their currency to make our exports expensive, using slave labor, persecution of religon including buddists, christians, invading and brutally opressing Tibet, threating to invade Taiwan. Imprisoning and killing people for watching the news uncensored, or for speaking out. And now were going to imprison a person for making the leader of all this look bad? BTW if Castro was at the UN in NY and heckeled by a protester I dont think they would be jailed and I dont think Cuba’s human rights record is near as bad as China.
How much do we know about Fulun Gong? Be Honest. How much do we know about Boxers Rebellion? Be truful.
We know alot about Davidians, Jones Church and Hari Chrisnas.
When you talk about human rights in China, they think about human rights to live peacefully and orderly for 1.3 biilion people. That does not mean chaos, starvation and the entire country suffering for the sake of a few .
Cults and vodooism are against public policy and safety in China. Amen.
When Hu says China will not take lessons from other country on human rights, he is referring to, as gently as possible as guest, that US has no human rights record to speak of.
When Jiang said that he could recite the Gettysburg Address when he visited, he actually meant US has its Civil War they have their Taiwan problems. In other words, mind your own business !
If US’s version of democracy works and you guys care so much about human rights, why you re-elected a president who invaded a country which is not threatening to US, causing millions of people dying. When the two major two reasons of invading Iraq – WMD and 911 – are proved having nothing to do with that country, when everybody knows what’s going on about the CIA-gate, the DOD scandal, why most people in the most democratic country are so quiet? If you guys really care about people killed in China, why you GWB the second chance to kill people in Iraq? Do you really care, or you just hate the Chinese govenment because they have a different ideology ?
“Their own Taiwan problems”? Wei, didn’t the nationalists escape to Formosa well over 50 years ago? They have a tiny little piece-of-crap island. Why is this even an issue anymore?
And how exactly is Falun Gong endangering the public safety? Are they unleashing sarin gas into the subways or spraying botulism on salad bars?
I’m listening.
P.S. You might ask the people of Hong Kong how much they like their new government! ;-)
P.S. George, if you’ve read my previous posts, I don’t think I have to answer YOUR question! ;-)
Actually, China is a democracy.
China is the world’s biggest democracy and a freedom loving nation (note the first line of its national anthem)
See: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-12/08/content_288018.htm.
Article 2 of the constitution states that power belongs to the people.Article 60 states that NPC (legislature body) has a 5 year term.Article 34 states that anyone above the age of 18 can vote and stand for election.Article 79 states that the President of China is elected by members of NPC (legislature) which imply that if independent candidates get enough seats at the NPC, there can be a non-communist party President.Source: http://english.people.com.cn/constitution/constitution.html
All the words are of no use if it is not put in practice. And it is put in practice. Independent candidates are getting elected into the NPC and people are participating in elections as can be read from the news clipping above.
And if you don’t believe all that, refer to the good old trusty CIA world fact book on China where they say the last election was held from March 15 to 17, 2003 and the next one will be held in 2008 and I quote:
“elections: president and vice president elected by the National People’s Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 15-17 March 2003 (next to be held mid-March 2008); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People’s Congress”From: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html
As for the question whether Hong Kong people like their new government by Rage, the answer is yes.
Students in Hong Kong are asked to vote on who is the most popular political figure in Mainland China and Taiwan. Looks like the ranking comes in:1) Wen Jia Bao2) Zhu Rongji3) Hu Jintao6) Ma Ying Jiu10) Chen Siu Bian
So looks like in Hong Kong the Communist Party still came up tops in terms of popularity.
http://hkupop.hku.hk/english/release/release361.html
Falun Gong endangers public safety because many of the believers had refused to sought medical treatment prefering to do breathing exercises to cure their ailments. Also, its core belief that modern technology is not scientific but brought about by aliens from outer space is not the type of thought for a progressive society.
China a democracy? hve you been sniffing paint thinner? If your going to cite the CIA world fact book as a source you should trying reading all of it. If you did you would find that China only has one party the Communists(with eight small parties controlled by the communists) elections by themselfs doesn’t make you a democracy the soviets had them to so did Saddam. Of course students are going to say china has the best leaders the last time they spoke out they had their heads kicked in btw where is the guy that stood in front of the tank since then nobody have ever heard from him again.
The requirement for democracy does not require multi party. In fact, if you have read the Federalist papers written by James Madison who is one of the founding members of the United States, you will find that he opposed the creation of political parties at the national level. This he argued would lead to fractions and a reduction in choices. For example, in the US today, there are typically only 2 views, that of a democrat or that of a republican. You don’t have a 3rd view, or a 4th view or a 10th viewpoint.
The democracy system in China allows for a legitimate regime change through elections and that system would allow independent candidates that secure enough votes to vote for their own president.
As a former supporter of the Tiananmen protestors, I have to say that the event was a mistake.
Democratic and economic reforms in China started at the end of Mao’s death and at the return of Deng Xia Peng from exile who was a fugitive during Mao’s term. Deng’s return quickly triggered a “back to the drawing board” with the country adopting a new constitution in 1982. Reforms were introduced gradually and in 1988, people began to participate in direct elections. In Southern China, the economic system was changing from a centrally planned economy to a capitalistic economy. Since then, the capitalistic system and universal suffrage has spread through China.
But in 1989, Tiananmen incident happened. This was a set back to the reformers for they were blamed for the incident by the hardliners. As a result of Tiananmen, the hardliners pressured the reformers to tighten control of the nation. Many reformers such as Zhao ZiYang became scapegoats and were imprisoned by the hardliners.
If not for Tiananmen, reformers such as Zhao ZiYang could have remained in power and introduced further reforms. Tiananmen had provided the hardliners an excuse to bully the reformers into submitting to their demands.
The Chinese aren’t even real Communists!
Mahathir Fan . . . oh, shit, are you kidding me?
The George W. Bush of Malaysia politics.
The best thing about old Datuk Sri Mohammed Mahatir is that he’s out of office.
When are you Malaysians going to investigate all the government funds he embezzelled and stashed in banks all around the world.
Mahatir Fan, go eat some more durian and leave China to us, terimah kasih.
“If not for Tiananmen, reformers such as Zhao ZiYang could have remained in power and introduced further reforms. Tiananmen had provided the hardliners an excuse to bully the reformers into submitting to their demands.”
Or George H. W. Bush could have done the right thing for once in his life and pressured China into supporting democracy.
Instead, he sold out to his business cronies of which his own brothers had vested interests in, and left the Chinese democrats to twist in the wind.
At least Bush practices the golden rule–he who has the gold rules.
Nathan–
Concentrate real hard.
I was talking about how G. W. Bush doesn’t give a shit about democracy around the world–say, China–if it doesn’t benefit him or his cronies.
Abu Gharib is what rhetoricians call “a completely different topic.”
I’m sure you can see the difference if you work through it. Use a dictionary if you need to.
It just takes practice, son.
I have faith you can stay on topic someday . . .
While it’s always dangerous to conclude such things with certainty, it appears “Mahathir Fan” is a hit-and-run China apologist on a number of blogs.
I particularly liked the part about the HKU-POP survey. An example of a true claim that if, you examine both the data and the methodology–let alone the conclusions–doesn’t really mean a whole helluva lot.
The debate king strikes again!! Hey Nathan, practice your Latin
Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem. Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant. Qualem blennum!
Now THAT was an ad hominem attack ;-}
Since we’re off the subject yes, Nathan, when you are the commander-in-chief, EVERYTHING that happens on your watch is YOUR responsibility. Take a lesson from Truman..who had the sign “The buck stops here” on his desk. Or from DDE. This note was found in his shirt pocket after the D-Day landings:
Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air, and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone – June 5, 1944.
Folks on this thread have the gall to go bashing the US human rights record? In relation to China’s? CHINA?? You’ve got to be kidding.
We’ve made our share of mistakes, and still do. And our history of slavery and the racism that followed it is shameful. But on balance, we still are the measuring stick against which the rest of the world judges itself on this issue.
How many millions have the chinese gov’t executed this century? Who knows. Can you say “Tiananmen Square?”
I’ll not surrender that position to anyone.
Communism, Fascism, Zionism, are all fancy names for brutal dictatorships under some sort of cloak.
Try moving away from brutalizing and slaughtering and you become a Prime Minister Rabin, shot in the head by a bloodthirsty Zionist who is supposed to be spending some time in jail instead of Sharon’s ranch.
And we give them billions.
GMC
And I and others will go right on protesting US human rights abuses.So that you don’t have to surrender that position that the rest of the world judges itself on this issue.
A little human rights abuse is like a little bit pregnant
Did anyone here see “TankMan” on FrontLine PBS? Great coverage on the human rights abuses that permeate China both before and since Tianneman Square.
I’ve been working on my computer and I guess I missed something here.
Where are our manners?
Welcome to WEblog, Mahathir fan and Wei J. Pan.
I hope to see more of you.
“I hope to see more of you.”
That WOULD kinda be cool, X, but don’t hold your breath!
By the way, you forget george (not our usual “george”). Maybe if the editors post another thread critical of China, they will return.