Skip to content

Man Arrested for Libel Against the State For Online Posting

On July 14, 2008 Jia, aged 31, was arrested in Shanghai on charges of criminal defamation. He was accused of fabricating and distributing a defamatory article on the Internet saying that the killer in a July 1st crime had been tortured by police and therefore lost his reproductive capacity. On July 1, Yang, age 28, killed six policemen in Shanghai. A large volume of postings on the Chinese Internet showed support and sympathy for his actions viewing him as a hero challenging State authorities.

The prosecution charged that Jia’s conduct had “seriously damaged the reputation and public image of the police, law enforcement and public security organs,” thus violating the Criminal Law, Article 246.

According to the police, Jia has admitted to having committed defamation. One commentator on a State TV program suggested that a forensic test be conducted to determine wheter Yang’s reproductive capability had indeed not been damaged. “It would speak louder than an admission [by Jia].”

The Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, Article 246 states: “Whoever, by violence or other methods, publicly humiliates another person or invents stories to defame him, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance or deprivation of political rights. The crime mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be handled only upon complaint, except where serious harm is done to public order or to the interests of the State. “

Source:
Xinhua, July 14, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-07/14/content_8545047.htm
China News, July 17, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/sh/news/2008/07-17/1314986.shtml

Beijing Olympics: Government ID Required to Use Postal Service

Customers of government postal services must produce a valid government identification card during the Olympics, says China’s State Post Bureau. The special notice from the government agency states that post offices will not provide postal service if a sender of particles either to or from 6 cities between July 20 and September 20 does not produce a valid government I.D. The 6 cities are Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.

Source: Xinhua, July 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/sports/2008-07/16/content_8557748.htm

People’s Daily: The farce of bashing China’s human rights record

People’s Daily posted an edited version of the translation from an article in The Times (London) written by Brendan O’Neill titled “The farce of bashing China’s human rights record”. The key message of the article stated: “…The West has no moral authority to lecture anyone, including China, about rights and democracy… Respect for liberty is at an historic low in Europe and the U.S…”

Source:
People’s Daily, July 15, 2008
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/57507/7514447.html
Times Online, July 14, 2008
http://143.252.148.161/tol/comment/specials/article4329902.ece

Hu Promoted Three New Army Generals

Hu Jintao, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, promoted three PLA Army Generals on July 15. The ceremony was held in the August 1st Building in Beijing. The names of the three generals are: Liu Zhenqi, Vice Director of the PLA General Political Department; Huang Xianzhong, Political Commissar of the Shenyang Military Area Command; Fan Changlong, Commander of the Jinan Military Area Command.

Source: China News, July 15, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/07-15/1312918.shtml

Party Issues Anti-Corruption Rules to SOE Executives

Recently, the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Disciplinary Committee issued “Seven Rules” to warn executives of State owned companies. The rules warned that violators will face punishment, including the revocation of party membership. The article did not explain what punishments might be applied to non-party members.

The rules include language such as “profit taking for oneself or others using one’s official position is not allowed”, “no beneficial trade for one’s spouse and children using one’s official position [is allowed]” and “forcing accounting and financial professionals to forge fake financial reports is not permitted.”

All seven banned forms of misconduct are already illegal activities, raising the question of why the Party has to tell its senior members to obey existing laws.

Source: Jing Hua Shi Bao, July 16, 2008
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-07-16/005815937920.shtml

Large Banners with Slogans: ‘Illegal’ Petitions Will Be Sentenced and Penalized’

A Boxun (U.S.-based independent Chinese news website) reader posted pictures of  large Chinese character  slogans hung in various cities in mainland China. The slogans are being hung up as banners over the streets as part of a campaign to suppress petitions ahead of the Olympics. The slogans use wording such as “’Illegal ‘ Petitions Will Be Sentenced and Penalized;” “Firmly Crack Down on Criminal Activities Committed in the Name of Petitioning.” The author describes his anger at seeing a board saying “striking against illegal petitions” in front of a municipal government office.

Source: Boxun, July 14, 2008.
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/pubvp/2008/07/200807141034.shtml

Increased Armed Police and Travel Requirements in Beijing

Xinhua reports that passengers traveling in and out of Beijing during the Olympics need to use their real names to purchase tickets. The Ministry of Transportation issued a notice requiring strict checkups on passengers traveling via land and water. The news report is provided with photos showing police with heavy firearms standing at checkpoints along a main road.[1] In a separate picture report, armed police are patrolling Beijing’s Capital Airport. [2]

Source: Xinhua, July 11, 2008
[1]. http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-07/11/content_8528263.htm
[2]. http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-07/01/content_8467743.htm

Senior Citizen Population to Reach 250 Million by 2020

China’s population of senior citizens will reach 250 million or 17 percent of the total population by 2020 and 400 million or 30 percent of the total population by 2050. This fast growing aging population will have an impact on the country’s economic and social development. It will also pose challenges for the existing inadequacy of the country’s pension and medical care system.

Source: BBC, July 11, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7500000/newsid_7502900/7502988.stm