While attending the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party in China (CPC), China’s first astronaut, Yang Liwei, indicated that a branch of the CPC would be set up in a space station to await China’s permanent presence in space. [1]
One Million Security Guards, 2,217 Representatives at the CCP’s 17th Congress
According to the Beijing Population Control Bureau, there are more than one million professional and volunteer security personell guarding the Party’s 17th Congress. The number includes 180,300 guard members, parking attendants, managers of the floating population and of house rentals, guarding cadres of various working units, and property security; 291,000 security and patrol volunteers; and 352,700 public security activists and other volunteers like Sanbao force. In addition, there are 60,000 security personnel in Dongcheng, Xicheng District and 120,000 in Haidian district. (The total number is 1.02 million.) There are also 1,200 secret police and 80 police dogs
The High Cost of Preventing Public Petitions; One Woman’s 11 Years of Appealing for Justice
Since 1999, Mrs. Liu Qingzhen, a retired teacher from Deng County, Henan Province, has unceasingly been appealing for justice for her husband. She has gone to Beijing to appeal to the central government 60 times, but was stopped 38 times, and put into custody in a black jail (a jail that no one admits exists) 4 times. Each time, she was detained for 10 days with no food, she was severely beaten and tortured, and governement officials consfiscated all of her personal belongings, including her cell phone.
Beijing Claims Olympic Preparations Have Boosted Human Rights
China’s preparations for the 2008 Olympics have boosted the country’s human rights development and improved the welfare of the people, says Beijing. The remarks were made as an international campaign is unfolding to seek an end to human rights abuses in China.
With Government Strengthening Its Power, Public Ownership Continues to Be the Primary System
According to the Outlook Weekly magazine published by Xinhua, the predominating status of the public ownership system has been strengthened, with the government in tight control over the distribution of economic resources.
2,000 Former Rightists Demand Redress during the 17th National Congress
More than 2,000 former rightists [1] cosigned an open letter [2] to the 17th National Congress, again requesting that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) redress the grievances of the Anti-Rightist Movement, abolish censorship and repay salaries owed to those who were labeled rightists in 1957. [3] The open letter was handed to representatives of the 17th National Congress through various channels.
PLA Air Force Launches 2008 Recruiting Season
The Air Force of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has started the 2008 campaign to recruit pilot students from high school graduates and college students.
Over 20 Princelings Hold Key Central Committee Positions
"Crown Prince Party" and "The Princelings" are derogatory terms coined by Chinese civilians to satirize the descendants of prominent and influential senior communist leaders who take advantage of their parents’ political power either to seek a political career or to make a big fortune for themselves.