Dissidents and Christians under tight surveillance during Cheney's visit
Beijing (AsiaNews) Chinese dissidents and their relatives will be under tight surveillance during U.S. Vice Preside Dick Cheney's official visit, sources in Beijing told AsiaNews. The Chinese Public Safety Bureau will oblige activists, dissidents and members of house churches, including their relatives, not to leave their homes except to go to work and do shopping. They were ordered to have no contact with the public.
The strict security measures have been taken to avoid incidents or bad human rights publicity for the Chinese government while the American delegation and foreign media are present during Cheney's visit.
House church missionary, Hua Huiqi, is under arrest at his home. On Apr. 12 police showed up at his residence ordering him not to go outside. Police also warned him that his phone would be tapped.
His wife, Wei Jumei, is followed by police when she leaves home to do the family's shopping. Even Jia Jian-ying, the wife of one of the founding members of the Chinese Democratic Party, He Depu, is constantly followed.
He Depu was sentenced to 8 years in prison last November, charged with being a member of an outlawed association. Mrs. Jia Jian-ying was also interrogated by police officials for over two and a half hours. Also kept under close watch is activist Liu Xiaobo, who was threatened not to meet up with anyone. Police warned him they will intervene he does not heed their commands. Liu Xiaobo is a scholar who is the past was closely linked to the student movement in Tiananmen Square.
Li Shang-na, wife of Protestant Christian Xu Yonghai, has received police visits and has been obliged to limit her leaving home and making contacts with friends and associates. Her husband Xu Yonghai had been arrested and sentenced to prison on charges of having spread news abroad about the demolition of house churches in Zhejiang.
Notwithstanding all the checks and controls, more than 160 Chinese dissidents were able to release and permit Cheney to receive a copy of an open letter in which they asked the Chinese government to improve the conditions of political prisoners. The letter cites 16 Democratic Party leaders who are in prison serving up to 20 year-sentences for having sough greater freedom of expression and association.
Lately the government in Beijing has approved various laws "to ensure public order". In particular a measure has been passed to "to regulate control (of order and security administration) in Tiananmen Square". The new regulation will go into effect this Apr. 20. The Square's regulation of use will attempt to prevent incidents such as suicide protests from happening (as had occurred some months ago) as well as mass demonstrations like those which gave rise the Tiananmen massacre.
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