HRW: Repression on rise in China

BEIJING, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The Human Rights Watch says China’s repression of dissent has intensified as the Communist Party gets ready for its 17th Congress next week.

The effort is designed to present a facade of social harmony ahead of the political convocation, which is held every five years to pick the country’s future leadership and announce long-range programs.

“The latest moves in the crackdown, which began in August, have included the abduction, arrest or violent intimidation of dozens of perceived dissidents who the government fears may protest on the streets of Beijing,” the rights group in New York said in a news release.

The group said the repression follows the program outlined last March by Beijing public security bureau chief Yu Hongyuan, who said “harshly penalizing one person,” would “frighten many more into submission.”

Similar steps also are proposed prior to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and the 60th anniversary celebrations of the People’s Republic of China in 2009.

Rights Watch official Sophie Richardson said this week's actions were the “culmination of months of targeted tightening of controls on media, the Internet, and freedom of movement for dissidents designed to impose ‘stability’ during the party congress.”