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Thursday, August 21, 2008

Relatives say 79 year old woman with disabilities in China sentenced to labor camp


Disability Nation reports on the case of two elderly women, one who is nearly blind and uses crutches to ambulate, who have been sentenced to labor camp as part of a re-education program after applying to protest their housing eviction.

Perhaps you caught the NBC Nightly News Report earlier this week that examined the process that China established through which citizens could petition for the right to protest at three specially appointed locations during the Olympics. It turns out that of 77 requests filed by citizens that none of them were granted. Further, it appears that some who have made these requests have been arrested or, as in this case, sentenced to re-education programs which appear to be nothing more than a quick and convenient way to punish people without allowing the individuals any rights or chance to defend themselves.

Wu Dianyuan, 79, and her neighbor Wang Xiuying, 77, were notified Sunday that they were to serve a yearlong term of re-education through labour, said Wang’s son, Li Xuehui. Officials did not specify a reason and still had not acted on the order, he said. via Disability Nation

A spokeswoman for the re-education through labor program denied having either woman's name on record.

[image description: Wu Dianyuan, standing on crutches, and Wang Xiuying are pictured standing on a brick walk on a street with an officer nearby.]

2 comments:

Rosario said...

wow, between that and the religious persecution one can only say, "Lord, help China!"

anywho, you are now in my blogroll :) God bless.

Ruth said...

Rosario- thanks for adding me :)