Government/Politics - 331. page

In a recent issue of Qiushi magazine, an article, authored by Meng Jianzhu, the Minister of Public Security, defined the tasks of the public security as maintaining the order, dissolving the conflicts, deterring the violent behaviors, and keeping the situation in control. It called for a stop to intensifying the conflicts caused by improper measures taken by police.

In particular, Meng cautioned against using weaponry and forceful measures so as to prevent blood shedding. He also stressed on guiding the public opinion and announcing the government message in the first time at emergent events. It’s believed that Meng’s article is a response to the recent escalation of police violence and inflated public discontents.

Source: Nanfang Daily, November 4, 2008
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/nfjx/200811040022.asp

In reporting the current financial crisis spread in Western countries, China’s state media utilized the opportunity to tout the greatness of Marxism and the advantage of socialist (communist system). Following are a few examples:

Jie Fang Daily: Financial Crisis Made Marx’s “The Capital”a Hot-Sale Book in Germany http://www.jfdaily.com/news/xwgj/200810/t20081016_412008.htm

Wen Hui: “The Capital” Comes Back to the Class of German Universities http://wenhui.news365.com.cn/hqsc/200811/t20081104_2082270.htm

Xinhua: The Lasting Attraction of “The Capital” http://www.hq.xinhua.org/comments/2008-10/22/content_14712203.htm

Xinhua (originally from People’s Daily): The Forever Marx http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-10/28/content_10263109_1.htm

CN West News: “The Capital” Becomes the “Straw” and “Prescription” for the Self-Realization and Rescue of the Dying Capitalism
http://opinion.cnwest.com/content/2008-10/20/content_1484562.htm

[Translator’s note: in phone conversations with family members and friends from mainland China, many asked that U.S. is also following the path of socialism.]

More and more lawyers in China are willing to represent Falun Gong, a group that was outlawed and its members are persecuted in China.  In the past, most of the Falun Gong adherents were sent to the detention center without the legal procedure.

A recent trial was held in Jixi City of Heilongjiang Province on October 30. Two Falun Gong adherents Liu Jinglu and Sun Lixiang were arrested for distributing flyers on the street and are currently detained at the No. 1 Detention Center in Jixi City. A few hundreds of friends and family members were waiting outside the court. Four lawyers were hired to represent the defendants. Xun Lixiang wrote in her statement to the court that she suffered beating, electrocution, and threatening while being detained and pleaded not guilty. The defense lawyers raised the objection against a series of actions by the prosecutor and the judge and concluded that the behaviors have violated the court order and asked the court to investigate. The trial lasted for an hour and half and the next trial date will be announced at a later time.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Jiang Tianyong, Li Xiongbing, Tang Jietian, three defense lawyers said that the suppression of Falun Gong adherents is against the common values, the constitution as well as the spirit of law. Jiang Tianyong noted that every step the court took was under the direct supervision of the 610 office whose name was unanimous on any court paper. “610 is an illegal entity here.  Spiritual belief is not a crime. This (Falun Gong) case is within the boundary of freedom of belief. Falun Gong adherents have the rights to practice and spread their beliefs which formed no threat to the society and hence can’t be judged by the law. The so called ‘obstruction to exercise of law’ was groundless and was forced upon by the authority” Li Xiongbing said.

Source: The Epoch Times, October 31, 2008
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/8/10/31/n2314576.htm

Lu Guoping, Chief of Staff of China Ministry of Land and Resources has been under disciplinary investigation for corruption, Xinhua reported. Apparently he was removed from his position because Xinhua used “former Chief of Staff” to identify his position. Lu made his last appearance on October 12 as Chief of Staff at an official function.

Source: Xinhua, October 31, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-10/31/content_10283412_1.htm

On October 30, 2008, Nan Fang Daily published an article by Du Guang, a retied party official. The title is “Why do they slander democracy and freedom?” The author criticized an article “Democracy in the Fists” in “Beijing Evening” on October 22, 2008. The latter article cited recent incidents in Taiwan and Thailand to ridicule democracy and freedom in other countries. This is an old tactic used by the Communist party since Mao’s era to belittle western values. What’s usually about Du Guang’s article is his strong defense of universal values such as democracy, freedom, equality and human rights. When talking about the role of Chinese media, he wrote: “What common understanding (among medias) should be achieved? Is it maintaining a complete agreement with the Party and be the Party’s tamed tool, or forming a common understanding on universal values?”

Source: Nan Fang Daily, October 30, 2008 
http://www.nfdaily.cn/opinion/opinionlist/content/2008-10/30/content_4678061.htm

Huang Songyou, a judge of the China’s highest court, was removed from position and now under investigation for connection with corruption, reported Dong Fang Morning News. On October 28, 2008 the 5th session of the 11th Standing Committee announced the removal of Huang Songyou from the position of Vice President of Supreme People’s Court. It was reported that he was led away by Communist Party disciplinary staff in earlier in October and has not been home since. His family indicated that Huang has been assisting in the investigation of a top level official at the High Court of Guangdong Province for suspected illegal activities in connection with the auction of a piece of real property. Huang is considered the highest-ranking official in China’s judiciary system that has been disciplined since 1949.

Source: The Supreme People’s Court of China, October 29, 2008 http://www.court.gov.cn/news/bulletin/release/200810290004.htm Dong Fang Morning News, October 29, 2008 http://epaper.dfdaily.com/dfzb/html/2008-10/29/content_91392.htm

4,525 county-and-above-level government officials were convicted from 2003 to 2008, said by Wang Shengjun, the Supreme Court’s chief justice, in a report to the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress on October 26. The figure is 77.52% higher than five years before. The courts trialed 1.2 million criminal cases that seriously harm the social security, including crimes endangering national security, terrorist, gang crimes, murder, kidnap, robbery, and drug abuse. 1.6 million people were put in jail.

Source: Xinhua, October 26, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-10/26/content_10254667.htm

Jiangxi Province found rampant funding irregularities in its agriculture subsidy programs, reported Xinhua on October 23, 2008. An inspection earlier this year show funding violations in the amount of 796,950,000 yuan, of which 658,960,000 yuan were erroneously delayed, 4,150,000 were arbitrarily retained, 26,300,000 yuan were misappropriated, 1,130,000 yuan were embezzled and 106,410,000 yuan were in other violations. There were 254 cases under investigation. 175 individuals were administratively disciplined. 25 of them have been charged in courts.

Source: Xinhua, October 23, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-10/23/content_10239890.htm