Social Stability - 165. page

New Tang Dynasty Television’s website carried a series photos of the crime scene where two military soldiers were shot to death on the evening of March 20.

On March 20, one day after a security guard was shot to death and his weapon taken by the suspects in Jiang Bei District of Shi Qiao Pu in Chongqing, Sichuan province, two soldiers were shot to death around Yu Zhou Hotel in Chongqing. Police are actively searching for the suspects throughout the city. There were also rumors that the suspect only targeted uniformed military personnel.

Source: New Tang Dynasty Television, March 21, 2009
http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/gb/2009/03/21/a271419.html#photo

A group of 23,000 retired military officers issued a complaint about a retirement policy between 1993 and 2000 (No. 93.1 policy), reports a civil rights organization in China. Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch has since published the complaint. The ex-officers complain about the hardships that the No. 93.1 policy has subjected them to. The retirement policy required the authorities to make a buyout lump sum payment (approximately $10,000 at the time). Once the payment was made the government was thus released of any obligation to make monthly retirement payment. Some of these ex-officers served in the People’s Liberation Army for as long as over 25 years. Many participated in the war against Vietnam in early 1979. The complaint calls for release of the details and open discussion of the retirement policy throughout the PLA.

Source: Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch, March 17, 2009
http://msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=1846

Mr. Li Fengzhi, a former intelligence officer of China State Security Ministry, stepped forward and denounced the Communist Party, Epoch Times reports on March 11 2009. While in China, his responsibilities were to collect and analyze economic and political intelligence. Several years ago Li gave up his career and moved to the United States for freedom. He has since been harassed and threatened by Chinese State agents. He hopes his decision will encourage his former colleagues to be true to themselves and break away from the Communist Party.

Source: Epoch Times, March 11, 2009
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/3/11/n2458534.htm

Wife and two children of prominent rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng arrived in the United States 11 March 2009 from Thailand where they were granted UN refugee status, says Radio Free Asia. The family left Beijing Jan 9 and traveled nonstop together with friends. They group successfully eluded police and arrived Thailand on Jan 16. They fled China because of the long-term government harassment and surveillance that makes it impossible for a normal life. Their 16-year-old daughter has attempted suicide. Lawyer Gao Zhizheng, a Christian, has openly criticized the Chinese regime for its persecution of Falun Gong. As a result he was imprisoned and tortured. His wife believed that the Chinese authorities arrested him again as of Feb 4, 2009. 

Source: Epoch Times, March 12 and 13, 2009
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/3/12/n2459537.htm
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/3/13/n2460476.htm

18 Chinese Christians were arrested on March 1, 2009 at Zhaojiazhuang, Nanyang, Henan Province, Radio Free Asia reports. They were arrested during the Sunday service. 16 of them were released the next day after paying a fine. 2 were detained for 15 days for committing the crime of “illegal religious activity.” On February 11, about 50 Chinese Christians were arrested at a home in Nanyang, Henan Province. 98 policemen raided the house of Mr. Chen, a Christian. They searched and ransacked the house, and arrested all Christians at the gathering.

Source: Radio Free Asia, March 5, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zongjiao-03052009084426.html

Chinese police at Aba prefecture in Sichuan Province shot a 24-year-old Tibetan monk after he set himself on fire at a market, just after Losar, the Tibetan New Year. Earlier he and his fellow monks were refused entry to the main prayer hall at the Kirti Monastery in Aba. The Chinese authorities had forbidden observation of Monlam, a traditional prayer festival held after Losar. The monk was shot three times and was taken away by police after he fell.

Source: Epoch Times, March 2, 2009
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/9/3/2/n2448219.htm

The first four police helicopters will be patrolling above Beijing and will play a major role in cracking down social unrests, according Beijing police authorities on February 26, 2009. “During social emergencies, the police helicopters will work with ground police to track, search and arrest the targets.”

The police helicopter team consists of forty-three pilots. 86% of them are air force servicemen. It is the largest and best-equipped police helicopter team and will fly monthly schedules, three days a week, between 4 to 8 flights. In times of social emergencies, helicopters will take off within 30 minutes of the order. The helicopters were imported from Italy, models AW139 and AW109.

Source: China National Defense Information, February 27, 2009
http://info.cndsi.com/html/20090227/60815075742.html

511 lawyers in Shenzhen signed a petition challenging the sentencing of a fellow lawyer and calling for a fair trial. On December 17, 2008, Lawyer Liu Yao in Shenzhen was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment for providing legal services to farmers who lost their land to a power company. He was charged with “intentional destruction of property.” Liu has filed appeal. The petition is the largest campaign to date by China’s legal community on rights issues.

Source:
Epoch Times, February 1, 2009
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/2/1/n2414246.htm
Xinhua, September 27, 2008
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-09/23/content_10095057.htm