07/17/2013, 00.00
CHINA
Send to a friend

Activist Xu Zhiyong arrested for "violence," after asking Party to disclose leaders assests

by Wang Zhicheng
Xu, 40, a University professor of law founded Gongmeng a non-violent movement in favor of Chinese Constitution and law. Dozens of activists arrested for denouncing Party corruption. Beijing, claims it is "an attempt to subvert state power."

Beijing (AsiaNews) - One of the most prominent among human rights activists, Xu Zhiyong, was arrested yesterday by Beijing police for "trying to gather crowds and disturbing public order." Xu had been held under house arrest for two months. Xu's lawyer and colleague Teng Biao, rejects the charges against his client. Human Rights in China reports that Xu's arrest was an attempt to truncate the campaign he had launched demanding public disclosure of the assets of Party and government members.

Xu Yong, 40 (see photo), a law lecturer at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, has long been engaged in the defense of human rights of the Chinese population, insisting that the government respect the constitution. For months he has been engaged in the Gongmeng movement, calling on the leadership to publish their assests and those of their family members.

The request to render public property owned by the party cadres was made years ago by the same Hu Jintao. It was also discussed in the National People's Assembly in March. But since then, the President Xi Jinping has put to rest any debate.

According to many activists, the assets disclosure could reveal the true level of corruption among Party members, who use their position in the hierarchy for personal gain.

In recent months, foreign media reports on the wealth accumulated by former Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, the former governor of Chongqing Bo Xilai, and the same Xi Jinping has caused quite a stir.

Teng Biao revealed that at least 10 other peoe linked to the Gongmeng movement were arrested in Beijing and many more in other provinces. Like Xu, they all are accused of disturbing public order, "with the aim of subverting state power".

In a blog posted on the Internet on May 2012, Xu said that China "needs a new movement of citizens" to give birth to a "free, democratic China governed by the law." Last April, he was taken off a flight to Hong Kong and was put under house arrest until yesterday. He is currently being detained at n. 3 prison in Beijing.

 

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
Catholic music to promote dialogue in Ambon, the city of sectarian violence
17/10/2018 13:29
Corrupt Chinese communists flee with 800 billion yuan (over 20 years)
16/06/2011
Party divided over arresting all (or some) Charter 08 signers
24/02/2009
White House to stop Beijing's "imperialist" policy in the South China Sea
24/01/2017 15:55
Another three Chinese dissidents in prison
21/09/2006


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”