Human Rights Appellants Refused Entrance to 'China Human Rights Exhibit'

The “China Human Rights Exhibit” organized by the Information Office of the State Council opened on November 17 at the Nationality Cultural Palace Museum in Beijing. The organizer promised it would be “open to the public free of charge.” However, many appealers and residents who went to visit were refused entrance. Outside the exhibition, uniformed police and police in plain clothes swarmed the place and police vehicles shuttled back and forth.

An appealer, Ms. Guo from Beijing, said that on November 17, she came to the exhibit from a faraway suburb. She was kicked out for trying to submit a complaint. She told the reporter that she was a witness of how the Chinese regime violates human rights. The bridge of her nose bone was broken by a prison guard when she was illegally sentenced to eight months in prison by the regime, and she was beaten to be doubly incontinent. She still suffers from the consequences today, and cannot cure it. She was arrested because the police mistakenly thought she was distributing Falun Gong materials. She felt it better to die than to live. After being driven out of the exhibit, she was threatened immediately by a policeman that if she did not leave, she would be put into a police vehicle right away. She had to leave in silence with tears in her eyes.

Beijing appealer Sun Lianxi, who was refused entrance to the exhibit similarly said, “They even shamelessly held a human rights exhibit, where ordinary people do not have the right to visit. You see the number of police is even more than the number of visitors. This human rights exhibit should be held in an appealers' village. There they have a true China human rights exhibit and there is no need to spend a cent in preparation. It is vivid and truthful. What is shown here is all fake, and one cannot view it at liberty. The government is very much afraid.”

Appealer Tian indicated that the newspaper, radio, and television reported extensively about this exhibit in recent days. Dong Yunhu, the vice-president and secretary-general of the China Human Rights Research Society said, “Holding such a comprehensive exhibit featuring human rights is the first in China and is unprecedented around the world,” and “the government respects and guarantees human rights.” Tian said, “It is completely deceptive and boastful. We came here and they refused to let us enter—are we not members of the public? Who is this exhibit for? They have such a big promotion, why are they afraid of letting people see it? Isn't it that they have a guilty conscience and are trying to create a false impression? Holding a human rights exhibit in an appealers' village would truly 'publicize the historical achievements made by China's human rights development.'”

Many appealers indicated that the regime promised to have this exhibit “be open to all of the public free of charge.” Tian continued, “Just look at the police vehicles here, and the police here, who are all glaring at us like a tiger eyeing its prey. You will then know if there are human rights in China. This exhibit needs police to protect it. Is it really for protecting the people or for monitoring the people? It is purely putting on a show. Holding a human rights exhibit, yet there are no human rights, not even the right to see it. 'The government respecting and guaranteeing human rights' is merely a facade and for show.”

The appealers told the reporter that on the morning of November 18, there were police vehicles and police dressed in plain clothes all around the outside of the exhibit. Six police vehicles were parked in front of the Nationality Cultural Palace Museum. Dozens of ordinary residents who went to see the exhibit gathered at the gate and were refused entrance.

An insider said, “The administration for this exhibit is very strict. They do not sell or distribute tickets. It is by invitation only, or by having work units book group tickets in advance. In a university, he saw a notice that stated, “On November 18 and 19, there will be a 'China Human Rights Exhibit' in the Nationality Cultural Palace Museum. Students who are interested in visiting please get tickets at the 303 office of student affairs.”

This exhibit will end on November 26. The China Human Rights Research Society will hold an “international human rights forum on respecting and promoting human rights and constructing a harmonious world” in Beijing from November 22 to 24.