Skip to content

Applicants of Protest Permit Sentenced To One-Year Forced Labor Camp

Two elderly women who applied for a permit to protest in the newly established protest park during the Beijing Olympics have received notification of a “Decision on Education through Labor” from the Beijing Municipal government, BBC reported.

Between August 5 and August 18 Wu Dianyuan of 79 and Wang Xiuying of 77 had applied 5 times with the Beijing Public Security Bureau seeking permit to protest.  Both were detained and interrogated for 10 hours during their attempt on August 5 at Beijing’s Public Security Bureau.  The two went to Beijing’s Public Security Bureau again on August 18 and were told that since both had received the notification “Decision on Education through Labor” on August 17, they have no right to apply for a permit to protest.

Education through forced labor (laogai) is an administrative form of sentencing issued at the discretion of the government or police without a trial.

Source: BBC, August 21, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7570000/newsid_7573200/7573239.stm