China Human Rights and Rule of Law Update - May 2006
Message from the Chairman
World Press Freedom Day
May 3rd marks World Press Freedom Day. In the United States, the Constitution's First Amendment and two centuries of democratic governance have enshrined freedom of the press as a fundamental right enjoyed by all Americans. Throughout the world, democratically elected governments recognize that freedom of the press is a fundamental human right and a powerful antidote to government abuse of power.
In China, however, government censorship denies Chinese citizens the freedom of press guaranteed them in their Constitution. Chinese journalists who provide news to foreigners, such as Zhao Yan and Shi Tao, are imprisoned. Editors of publications that criticize government policies, such as Yang Bin of the Beijing News and Li Datong of the China Youth Daily, are fired. The broadcasts and websites of foreign news organizations, such as those of Radio Free Asia, the Voice of America, and the BBC, are blocked. In 2005, China's government banned 79 newspapers and confiscated almost one million "illegal" political publications. Today is the one year anniversary of this Commission's website being blocked in China.
China's leaders must recognize that inflexibility, secretiveness, and a lack of democratic oversight now pose the greatest challenges to continued development. Popular frustration, especially with official corruption, seems to be growing. Without effective channels to voice their grievances and protect their economic and civil rights, Chinese citizens often have little choice but to take to the streets. Such a result can only undermine China's progress. Freedom of the press is a primary means for keeping officials accountable to the citizens they serve. It is an essential building block for any long-term and successful system of government.
Announcements
Roundtable: The Lot of Chinese Workers: Do China's Labor Laws Work?
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China held another in its series of staff-led Issues Roundtables on April 11 entitled The Lot of Chinese Workers: Do China's Labor Laws Work? The panelists were Han Dongfang, Director, China Labour Bulletin, and Robin Munro, Director of Research, China Labour Bulletin.
Translation: Measures on the Registration of Venues for Religious Activity
Under Chinese law, no one may establish a place of worship without government approval. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China has prepared an English translation of the Measures on the Examination, Approval, and Registration of Venues for Religious Activity, issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs on April 21, 2005.
Translations: Party and Government Regulation of Civil Society
Although Chinese government control over the economic and social life of its citizens has receded since the late 1970s, Chinese authorities continue to restrict the development of an independent civil society in China. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China has prepared English translations of two Party circulars and two regulations establishing these controls.
- Circular on Strengthening the Management of Social Organizations and Non-Governmental, Non-Commercial Enterprises, issued by the Central Party Committee and State Council in 1996;
- Circular on Strengthening the Management Of Civil Society Organizations, issued by the Central Party Committee and State Council in 1999;
- Regulation on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations, issued by the State Council in 1998; and
- Temporary Regulation on the Registration and Management of Non-Governmental, Non-Commercial Enterprises, issued by the State Council in 1998.