Olympic Torch of Repression
Anyone who held fantasy ideas that the arrival of the Olympics, and the attention of the outside world that it brings, into China would somehow make the government less repressive and more tolerant of human rights was sorely mistaken.
On the contrary, China is moving aggressively to stifle even whimpers of protests ahead of the Olympic Games in an attempt to ensure that foreign visitors see a sterilized, "harmonious" society envisioned by the cabal that heads the Communist Party of China. Virtually anyone with the integrity or courage to speak their mind about rampant abuses of political and civil rights are being arrested left and right, akin to sweeping anything that might make your society look less "harmonious" under the carpet.
Perhaps what is most disturbing is that China has moved to repress even persons who are not necessarily voicing political opinions. Hu Jia is one such unfortunate soul. Hu has been detained on and off since 2006 and has been under house arrest along with his family for much of that time. With Hu in police custody again with unsubstantiated and politically motivated charged leveled against him, his wife has been cut off from the internet as well as most human contact.
The ruling junta in Beijing seems to be sparing no effort in squashing any and all signs of protest ahead of the Olympics. The rest of the world, meanwhile, continues to fawn over China and watch as the Chinese people are subject to restrictions that no human beings should have to bear.
Despite all this, the courage of those willing to speak out is remarkable. As Hu Jia once remarked to his mother:
“If I don’t shed blood for the country, who will? If I don’t go to hell, who will?”
On the contrary, China is moving aggressively to stifle even whimpers of protests ahead of the Olympic Games in an attempt to ensure that foreign visitors see a sterilized, "harmonious" society envisioned by the cabal that heads the Communist Party of China. Virtually anyone with the integrity or courage to speak their mind about rampant abuses of political and civil rights are being arrested left and right, akin to sweeping anything that might make your society look less "harmonious" under the carpet.
Perhaps what is most disturbing is that China has moved to repress even persons who are not necessarily voicing political opinions. Hu Jia is one such unfortunate soul. Hu has been detained on and off since 2006 and has been under house arrest along with his family for much of that time. With Hu in police custody again with unsubstantiated and politically motivated charged leveled against him, his wife has been cut off from the internet as well as most human contact.
The ruling junta in Beijing seems to be sparing no effort in squashing any and all signs of protest ahead of the Olympics. The rest of the world, meanwhile, continues to fawn over China and watch as the Chinese people are subject to restrictions that no human beings should have to bear.
Despite all this, the courage of those willing to speak out is remarkable. As Hu Jia once remarked to his mother:
“If I don’t shed blood for the country, who will? If I don’t go to hell, who will?”
posted by Vivek at 11:28 AM
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