China sentences academic to 11 years
Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 March 2011 21:17 Thursday, 11 February 2010 20:28
A governments intentions and commitment to it's people can be easily gauged by how it treats the opposition. In democracies, free speech is paramount and criticism of the government by the people and opposition is a liberty we take for granted. If you needed any further proof of how undemocratic and evil the Chinese regime is we just need to look at it's handling of an academic who made a call for reform of the political system. Today, he was sentenced to eleven years. ELEVEN years.
I can never understand how people abuse other people. The Chinese regime's treatment of it's people, it's suppression of their freedom, their right to choice, their right to elect their own government, their right to trade with each other openly, their right to have more than one child is all an indication that the Chinese government views it's people as little more than serfs. The serf's exist to keep the master in power and woe betide any that challenge it. Power comes from the barrel of a gun, held at the head of the serfs lest they get any inkling of asking for freedom. Chinese rulers would prefer to see an innocent man thrown in jail for having the patriotism, courage and self conviction to call for reform of a country he loves, than hold themselves accountable before their people.
Iran is going down the same path. It's brutal suppression of opposition calls has near set off another revolution in the country. We can only hope that a people's uprising succeed. Just like China, the regime there now holds onto power only through the use of force against it's own people. It's a sad way to rule, and one that will not be rewarded - in this life or the afterlife. South Korea is a country that offers a beacon of hope to the Chinese and Iranian governments of how to impose control over the serfs.
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| Liu Xia, wife of Liu Xiaobo talks to her lawyer |
Liu Xiaobo, the academic that was brave enough to issue such a mild call for political reform shouted out 'I am innocent' before he was led away. Europe and America condemned the decision and called for his release. He was found guilty of inciting to subvert state power - which is so broad a meaning as to threaten anyone that says anything against the state with imprisonment or death.
The Foreign Minister in China, Ma Zhaoxu, when asked by a reporter about his concern China's treatement of it's people might damage their image said "There are no dissidents in China." I'm not sure what kind of half wit Mr. Zhaoxu is, maybe he's used to dealing with half wits in his government. But every person in a democratic country knows there are dissidents to a government in a country. It's called democracy. People get to choose between conflicting viewpoints. Maybe he speaks with such foolishness because he's used to being unquestioned. Hard question somebody when they have the power of life and death over you - and that is precisely the position Chinese people find themselves in. That the regimes in China, Iran and North Korea are willing to put their own people to the death in order to hold onto power speaks volumes of their unjustness, eviliness and self-serving nature. Nothing lasts for ever and these regimes will fall. The people will hold them accountable for their gross crimes against humanity. Lets hope that day comes soon rather than later.
