China Human Rights and Rule of Law Update - No. 4 - April 21, 2010

 
 
 

Statement of Chairman Byron Dorgan and Cochairman Sander Levin

We express our deep concern about the deteriorating health of Hu Jia, currently serving a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence in Beijing Municipal Prison for "inciting subversion of state power," and urge the Chinese government to permit his release on medical parole. Hu is a human rights advocate who has worked on behalf of HIV/AIDS patients, environmental issues, and other rights defenders. Hu suffers from liver cirrhosis, and his family recently reported that his health has deteriorated. His family has been unable to receive the results of his medical tests, but has reason to believe he may be suffering from liver cancer or another serious illness. Hu appears to meet the qualifications for medical parole as stipulated in Article 2 of the 1990 Measures on Implementing Medical Parole for Prisoners (Chinese, English). We respectfully urge the Chinese government to permit Hu's release in accordance with these measures to ensure that he receives prompt and thorough medical treatment. 

 
 
 

Beijing Justice Bureau to Hold Hearing on Permanently Disbarring Human Rights Lawyers

On April 22, 2010, the Beijing Municipal Justice Bureau will hold a hearing to decide whether to revoke the lawyer's licenses of Tang Jitian and Liu Wei, two Beijing human rights lawyers who represented a Falun Gong practitioner last year in Sichuan province. If Chinese authorities decide to revoke Tang and Liu's licenses at the hearing, they could be disbarred in China permanently.

Joint Editorial Calling for Hukou Reform Removed From Internet Hours After Publication, Co-Author Fired

China's hukou (household registration) system imposes strict limits on where Chinese citizens may legally reside. Since access to social services is tied to household registration, some migrant workers are more likely than local residents to face discrimination in areas such as education, healthcare, and housing. On March 1, 13 mainland newspapers, apparently echoing recent statements by several high-level Chinese officials, jointly published an editorial calling on People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference delegates to inquire about a timetable for hukou system reform. Just one day after its publication, however, the joint editorial―originally co-authored by Zhang Hong, a top editor at the Economic Observer―was removed from many of the news sites. And on March 9, Zhang was forced to resign.

198 People in Xinjiang Reportedly Sentenced in Trials Marked By Lack of Transparency

An official from the far western region of Xinjiang announced in March that 198 people have been sentenced for crimes committed in July 2009, a period when demonstrations and rioting took place in the region. The number appears to exceed the total reported to date in Chinese media and points to a lack of transparency in the proceedings, in violation of both Chinese and international law. Chinese media reporting on the trial also has been marked by discrepancies between English-language reports for international audiences and Chinese-language reports for domestic readers. Chinese-language reports have described more details on detentions and trials, in at least one case indicating higher detention figures than reported in English, and in some cases suggesting some criminal charges could be of a political nature.

Chinese Government To Introduce Qualification Exam for Journalists in 2010

A high-level official at the General Administration of Press and Publication, the Chinese government's main regulator of the press, said on March 10, 2010, that aspiring journalists in China will be required to pass a new qualification exam that will test them on their knowledge of "Chinese Communist Party journalism" and Marxist views of news. Journalists who do not pass the exam will not be allowed to apply for a job in the news industry. This development comes amid continued efforts by the Chinese government to restrict media coverage of events deemed politically sensitive, such as major political meetings in March and the Google controversy, as well as official concern over unregulated news reporting on China's fast-growing Internet.

Kashgar Authorities Announce "Zero Tolerance" for Petitioning Higher Level Authorities About Old City Demolition

Local authorities in the far western region of Xinjiang have implemented measures to curb citizen petitioning to higher levels of government over grievances connected to a demolition and resettlement project in the Old City section of Kashgar. Local officials say that they have resolved residents' problems and that no households have taken their grievances to higher administrative levels. Information from non-Chinese sources indicates the project has drawn opposition from Uyghur residents and other observers for requiring the resettlement of residents and for undermining heritage protection. At the same time, Xinjiang officials continue to assert that the project adheres to international standards. As demolition work continues, authorities say they will hire some workers locally, in accordance with a government directive, but also will look outside Xinjiang to recruit half the workers needed.

Government Authorities Announce Upcoming Development Plan for Xinjiang

Chinese authorities have announced they will implement new initiatives to speed up development in the far western region of Xinjiang. Authorities will address the development work, along with stability concerns in the region, at a central work forum on Xinjiang later in the year. To date, authorities have provided limited details on the upcoming initiatives. Past development efforts have brought some benefits to Xinjiang but also have exacerbated inequalities and denied local residents meaningful input into such projects. Development efforts remain tightly connected to political controls in the region.

Number of Students Receiving Mandarin-Focused "Bilingual" Education in Xinjiang Continues To Rise

The number of students receiving "bilingual" education in the far western region of Xinjiang continued to rise in 2009. In Xinjiang, "bilingual" policies promote class instruction in Mandarin Chinese and have contributed to the phasing out of other languages in Xinjiang schools, in contravention of protections for these languages in Chinese law. As part of "bilingual" policies, the government has bolstered "bilingual" education programs at the preschool level. Recent government efforts also have promoted an increase in "bilingual" teacher training. In addition, authorities have adjusted college recruitment plans to admit more students educated in Mandarin.