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No summer stop to Chinese repression
In August, there were dozens of violations of human rights of those who protest against injustice and fight for democracy. The visit of foreign authorities, the Book Fair and the Expo often provoke a surge in police violence.
Beijing (AsiaNews) - Chinese authorities have stepped up repression against dissidents and human rights activists around the country. In the last month, according to the Chinese Human Rights Defender (CHRD), there have been at least 8 cases of serious violations of civil liberties of the population: all directed against dissidents. The most recent case concerns Beijing, where police intensified surveillance of almost all the houses of people deemed "hostile" to the regime.
Zhang Zuhua, an expert on constitutional law, confirms that the police are stationed not only in front of his building, but even on the stairs and in the garage. He Depu, Zha Jianguo, Gao Hongming and Liu Di - all dissidents - are kept under 24 hour surveillance and are forced to stay indoors. The reasons for this wave of repression are unclear, but some sources point to the visit of the Philippine President, the International Book Fair and the visit of a European delegation to the capital.
However, violence is not limited to Beijing. On August 30, Zhang Haitao, human rights activist in Urumqi (capital of the northern province of Xinjiang) was dragged into the street and beaten by police, who then locked him in a cell. After three hours of beatings he was released, but was told "not to be seen" at the Eurasia-China Expo, which opened yesterday in the city.
Also Aug. 30, police arrested without any evidence Wang Qungfeng, from Lushi County (Henan Province). The woman was tortured for having presented a petition to the central government in Beijing. Arrested in Tiananmen Square, she was sent back to her county and sentenced to 10 days in jail for "breaking social and public order." But police did not inform her family, and this is illegal.
Finally there is the case of Guo Nana, together with 5 other people from Shandong arrested again for bringing a petition to Beijing. The group was moved to 4 different prisons within 10 days to avoid the families finding out where they were. They were present in the capital on August 12 to protest against the forced demolition of their homes and to date, there has been no news of there whereabouts.