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Internet Control
Human rights lawyer Liu Shihui's legs were broken as a result of beating. (The Epoch Times Photo Archives )
On Jan. 23, Chinese leader Hu Jintao ordered the strengthening of Internet monitoring and management at a meeting of the Central Committee Political Bureau.
He reemphasized a directive put forth at a Feb. 19 seminar saying the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must have absolute control of China's Internet.
Zhou Yongkang, chairman of the CCP’s Politics and Law Committee, also made a statement to that effect on Feb. 21 at a social management seminar for leading cadres of provincial and central levels and military units. “The CCP Committee must have unified leadership and management of the Internet,” Zhou said.
Authorities Terrified
Beijing human rights lawyer Jin Guanghong told The Epoch Times in an interview published on Feb. 26, he could not understand why the authorities would arrest lawyers Tang Jitian, Teng Biao and Jiang Tianyong since they simply met to discuss how to help Chen Guangcheng, the blind lawyer who is under house arrest.
“I think they have become less confident in the international and domestic situations. They're extremely terrified and are taking all-out measures to put out any sparks of opposition,” Jin said.
Zhang Jiankang, a lawyer from Xi’an, Shanxi Province, is quoted in the same article saying, human rights lawyers focusing on the case of blind activist lawyer Chen Guangcheng may have reminded authorities of a [Tunisian] fruit vendor's self-immolation that triggered political change of an entire nation. Zhang said authorities purposefully strike down on these human rights activities for fear that they may turn into a Chinese “Jasmine Revolution.”
He Qinglian, a prominent U.S. based China commentator said in a recent Voice of America blog : “The greatest inspiration people have gained from Feb. 20 [the first proposed gathering date for China’s ‘Jasmine Revolution’ protests] is: It’s not the people who are afraid of the government, it’s the government who is afraid of the people.”
