Chinese Dissidents Say Regime's Crackdown Won't Work

Since calls for Middle East inspired Jasmine Revolution began in February in China, the Chinese Communist Party has undertaken sweeping actions in a bid to maintain power. Last week, Beijing-based rights lawyer Ni Yulan became the first lawyer to be officially detained for so called “creating a disturbance.” At least six other rights lawyers have been missing since late February.

Political dissident Zhang Jian says the regime’s use of force cannot be sustained, as the public becomes more aware of their rights.

[Zhang Jian, Chinese Political Dissident]:
“The June 4th movement in 1989, the rights movement by Falun Gong in 1999, and later, petitioner and disadvantaged groups have been fighting for their rights. They have displayed a series of actions to defy tyranny. This shows that China’s public is waking up, bit by bit. The Communist Party believes its guns and knives and the control of information can maintain its power. This obviously will not work.”

Hong Kong based rights group, Chinese Human Rights Defenders says 39 people have been criminally detained since mid-February. Three men have been sent to labor camps.

The Chinese regime’s system of “re-education through labor” allows authorities to sentence people up to four years' of confinement without going through the courts.

[Sun Wenguang, Retired Professor]:
“The regime adopts this method of labor re-education to suppress dissidents and public dissent. This suppression may be effective at certain levels. But what is the result of this suppression and detention in labor camps? It creates more public dissent. Sooner or later the public will find another venting channel. This isn’t something we want to see.”

According to Chinese Human Rights Defenders, 21 activists remain missing since being taken by Chinese authorities. International rights groups, including a United Nations rights panel have condemned the Chinese regime for these “forced disappearances."