Well… hello again on a Monday – the last full week of August.
If you watched the Olympics you probably found there was no dearth of spectacle and seeming new things to see about China. What you *did* see you should *not* mistake for openness – according to experienced China watchers. I was surprised to find a new (to me) blog about China written by the Washington Post’s Outlook Editor – but he takes off his editorial hat to write it.
John Pomfret has a very interesting history of journeying to China, hangin’ out with the young guys – and soaking up the culture. He worked in China for the AP and I believe became their bureau chief there. It seems to be a semi-tradition – as David Aikman – who wrote a book that’s gone into several editions entitled “Jesus in Beijing” acquired a great deal of his knowledge of Chinese people and the culture while he was working in Beijing for Time magazine.
In any case, the facts I put forth in today’s JUST A MINUTE were gleaned by Pomfret while the Olympics were in full swing. Two elderly ladies, Wen and Wu, had their houses “flattened” in one of Beijing’s government ‘rehabilitation’ projects – apparently very similar to the ‘eminent domain’ cases up in New England that caused such a stir last year and opened a whole new can of worms for the ‘big government’ types running loose. But the way in which we learn about the Beijing police jerking these two elderly folks around is rather sharp edged.
They apparently simply tried to put their protest out to the people via the three specially designated protest zones where the police planned to safely isolate trouble makers. But the Beijing police have a thing or two to learn about grandmotherly determination. What has been learned is: Protesting in an officially designated protest zone is a pre-approved ticket to the Chinese “hoosgow” (sic) according to Pomfret.
“Don’t show up if you don’t want to go up [the river.]” Continues to be the operative phrase for official protesters in current Chinese society. Promfret describes it as very “brittle.” Sounds about right. I hope the Grannies don’t have any more trouble and that they do get some fair compensation for having their houses ‘flattened’ by the Beijing Bullies.
Cordially, IN HIM
Jack
http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama08-25-08.mp3
http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt08-25-08.doc
“JUST A MINUTE”
WHY THROW GRANNY IN JAIL?
Just A Minute – Here’s an Olympic follow-up.
John Pomfret’s day job is editing the “Outlook Section” of the Washington Post – but because of his extensive experience living in China he also writes a blog about China’s inner workings. Now that the “BIG SHOW” fades from American TV – he says two 70-year old ladies, Wan and Wu, were denied permission four times to protest in one of the officially designated ‘zones.’ They were detained, Pomfret says, tried by the cops – not a judge – and told “if they behave, they won’t have to go to a labor camp.”
It’s a picture, Pomfret says, of what China is like on the inside. Very brittle – if you actually want to protest in a protest zone, it’s virtually guaranteed you’ll end up as an “opponent of the State.” Thus: “[China] send[s] a signal to people it won't tolerate threats to ‘stability’ and if they think the Olympics are heralding a new era of freedom, they'd better think again.” He adds – “the party has put Chinese malcontents on notice. We should take notice as well.”
<> I’m Jack Buttram
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Jebco Editorial Service
www.justaminuteradio.blogspot.com
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