News: September 2005 Archives

from BBC News
China's treatment of Uighurs living in its western region of Xinjiang risks turning the area into a "time bomb", an exiled Uighur group has said.

The World Uighur Congress (WUC) issued the warning as China prepared to celebrate 50 years of rule in Xinjiang.

A separate video, allegedly made by the East Turkestan Liberation Organisation, said it would use all means possible to launch an armed struggle against China.

China brands such groups terrorists and has vowed to crack down on separatists.

Concern over the situation in Xinjiang prompted the US to issue a statement on Friday warning American travellers in the region to be vigilant against an attack there, saying: "terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets".

>> Read the complete article

By KEITH BRADSHER - The New York Times

HONG KONG, Sept. 25 - Hong Kong's chief executive led all but one member of the city's legislature across the border to mainland China today, starting a two-day trip that marks the first time Beijing authorities have let in prominent Hong Kong advocates of democracy since the Tiananmen Square killings on June 4, 1989.

The lawmakers' trip marks the latest in a series of steps by the Chinese government to placate critics here who want greater democracy. Democracy advocates have long criticized Beijing, but agreed to the trip here without conditions.

The visit produced a heated discussion late this evening in Guangzhou over events in Tiananmen Square at a closed-door meeting between Hong Kong lawmakers and a powerful member of China's Politburo, said Ronny Tong, a former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association who is now a pro-democracy lawmaker and attended the meeting.

The lawmakers met Zhang Dejiang, one of the 23 members of the Chinese Communist Party's ruling Politburo and the party secretary for Guangdong province, which abuts Hong Kong and includes some of China's wealthiest cities.

"The last hour was questions; at least four democrats stood up and asked quite pointed questions, and there was a fiery exchange," said Mr. Tong, a member of the Article 45 Concern Group in the legislature. "The government officials steadfastly refused that there would be a revision on June 4."

>> Read the complete article

Appearing to promote peace and development while generals talk war
By Matt Gnaizda

NEW YORK - Chinese top leader Hu Jintao delivered two speeches to the United Nations General Assembly last week, the first addressing aid for developing countries, and the second—to the suspicion of some analysts—focusing on peace, fair trade, and global responsibility.

Hu’s first speech outlined five new measures for China to provide aid to developing nations, especially in Africa. The measures include medicine, direct aid, and $10 billion in loans. All five aid offers excluded countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which Beijing refuses to recognize as a sovereign state.

Many China-watchers believe that Beijing’s support of African countries is intended to influence their U.N. votes. In his comments on development, Hu made no mention of the hundreds of millions of peasants that live in abject poverty in his own country.

from BBC News
China will no longer treat death tolls in natural disasters as a state secret, the Xinhua news agency reports.

The move is a bid to make government more transparent, a spokesman for the official body for state secrets said.

The declassification of such figures would help disaster prevention and relief work, he added.

Death tolls from natural disasters have been closely guarded secrets in China for decades. Unauthorised attempts to obtain figures have led to jail terms.

>> Read the complete article

from BBC News
The United Nation's human rights chief, Louise Arbour, has said she is "guardedly optimistic" that China is making progress on human rights.

But she questioned Beijing's widespread use of the death penalty, warning that some of those being executed might be victims of discrimination.

Ms Arbour was speaking at the end of a five day visit to Beijing.

During her trip an agreement was signed to bring China closer to ratifying a covenant on civil and political rights.

She also raised a number of cases of specific concern to the UN - including cases of detained journalists, labour activists and ethnic minorities - as well as highlighting treatment of Tibetans and the Muslim Uighur minority in the restive region of Xinjiang.

>> Read the complete article