Hillary Clinton 'panders' to China as dissidents are silenced
Michael Sheridan Far East Correspondent

STATE security agents put dozens of dissidents under virtual house arrest
yesterday to silence support for Charter 08 - a new manifesto for Chinese
democracy - as Hillary Clinton made her first visit to Beijing as US
secretary of state.

The crackdown emerged as Amnesty International condemned Clinton for saying
that human rights could not interfere with talks on the financial crisis,
global warming and North Korea.

As foreign minister Yang Jiechi welcomed her with a broad smile, he observed
that it was "a bit chilly" in Beijing but promised Clinton she would see
"the biggest number of smiling faces".

Yang told the British press last year that Chinese police would "offer a cup
of tea" to any protesters at the Beijing Olympics, yet dozens of Chinese
were jailed for trying to protest.

Clinton told a joint news conference that the two would have "frank
discussions" on human rights, Tibet, religious freedom and freedom of
expression. She thanked China for continuing to invest in US government
debt. Yang responded that China would allocate its $20 trillion of foreign
currency reserves as it saw fit.

Outside in the snow, security agents in Beijing surrounded the homes of
writers and thinkers behind Charter 08, the boldest public petition for
Chinese freedom in 20 years. Some contacted reporters by text message to say
they could not go out.

Amnesty International said Clinton had sent the wrong signal to the Chinese
regime because the US was one of the few countries strong enough to stand up
to China on human rights.

"Half a million people are currently in labour camps," it said in a
statement. "Women face forced abortion and sterili-sation as part of China's
enforcement of its one-child policy."

Human Rights Watch said Clinton's strategy seemed to play into the hands of
the Chinese government by "segregating human rights issues into a deadend
dialogue of the deaf".

The criticism gave Clinton a rough ride on her first excursion abroad to
present the new face of American foreign policy under President Barack
Obama.

Up to her arrival in China, the secretary of state had displayed a virtuoso
command of her dual roles as icy diplomat and global celebrity.

In the first role, she issued a warning to North Korea to cease its warlike
threats in language no cold warrior could have faulted.

In the second, she charmed young audiences in Seoul, Tokyo and Jakarta with
her political savvy and common-sense talk about how women everywhere strive
to balance work and family.

In China, however, a government nervous of the Obama administration's
worldwide approval ratings did not offer its distinguished visitor a chance
to shine. Clinton's schedule included the standard stiff poses with Chinese
leaders and a visit to a power plant, and she was due to head home today.

kiloVolts wrote:
[snip]

Amnesty International condemned Clinton for saying
that human rights could not interfere with talks on the financial crisis,
global warming and North Korea.

China has 1.4 billion Chinese. Losing 400 million would barely loosen
childbearing crackdown policy. Torturing fanatic Christians in
on-Christian lands is God's work on Earth - test of faith! Harvesting
organs from prisoners is enlightened economics.

"Half a million people are currently in labour camps," it said in a
statement.

Hey stoopids - the US has the largest number of prisoners and the
largest imprisoned fraction of population in the history of mankind.
Russian gulags were piddles - and the Russians got value out of their
prisoners.

By why stop there? Compare Hitler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enabling_Act_of_1933
"Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Nation"

with the US House of Reprehensibles,

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-645
"National Emergency Centers Establishment Act" ...if the national
emergency requires large groups of people to be rounded up and
detained.

"Arbeit macht Frei."

--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
(Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/lajos.htm#a2