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1 October, Premier Wen calls for 'more democracy' for China
On the occasion of celebrations marking the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister promises more rights for the people and a democracy "with Chinese characteristics." But the government continues to repress human rights and prevent popular participation.
Beijing (AsiaNews) - China needs greater internal democracy, "the only way" to meet the great challenges before us and resolve the problems that worry people most of all”, said Prime Minister Wen Jiabao during a speech on the eve of October 1, marking the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
The Prime Minister referred to the "challenges" facing China: rising inflation, an imbalance in the ratio of cost of living and wages, unemployment, food security, corruption, environmental destruction and social injustice "we will increase - he said - our efforts to improve democracy and resolve these issues. "
Obviously, Wen made it clear that by "democracy" he does not mean the Western concept of the term. China, he stressed, "must develop a democracy with internal features, a Chinese-style socialism." It is a concept developed by Deng Xiaoping, China's second president, who first used it to justify economic liberalization. To celebrate the October 1, Wen and other leaders in Beijing went to Tiananmen Square and bowed before the monument dedicated to the martyrs of the Maoist revolution.
For some time, the Chinese premier has used concepts and terms in public closer to the Western concept of democratic society. But in China the government continues to repress with every available means those who seek justice and democracy. Only in recent days, particularly in view of today's anniversary, dozens of people were arrested or forcibly removed from the capital.
In addition, Beijing is trying to legalize "black jails", illegal prisons where dissidents simply disappear and imposed a restraint on "independent" candidates - ie non-Communist - in elections at all levels: from a local to national level. Finally, Wen has been repeatedly criticized by the media and press organs even within the Party and his calls for social justice and democracy have been deleted.