The recent controversy over Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin continues. He is currently waiting for confirmation of his Australian asylum bid. Road to Surfdom reports today - and Tim Dunlop expresses initial scepticism of his source - of an alternative perspective on the Chen case and his claims. The anonymous author takes on the Howard government's lofty claims of fighting tyranny and analyses Chen's public story thus far. He also offers a disturbing insight into China's "re-education" programs.
A blogosphere exclusive.
A blogosphere exclusive.
3 Comments:
Anthony, I should have clarified the “re-education” program for students a bit more. Students spent the year with army soldiers learning basic army drills and getting political lessons. The atmosphere was benign, students were well fed and accommodated and it should not be compared in any way with re-education camps for dissidents. The purpose was to get the young students mainly from middle class urban families to learn from the soldiers who were perceived as more “patriotic” (read obeying orders). It was a naïve attempt typical of inept communist bureaucrat decision making as it turned out there were not much to learn from the soldiers who were of same age as the students but much more poorly educated, and more interested in cultivating favors with the colonels to get a better discharge deal (most recruits were from rural areas and joined the army to get a city government job at discharge) than distilling patriotic lectures.
Thanks for the clarification, Anon.
There are so many questions about China's current practices, that mis-information shouldn't be allowed to spread.
Human rights violations are a major personal concern in China, and Chen appears to have revealed some hitherto (for many, anyway) info for the wider community.
Surely he should be granted asylum here....
Thanks for the heads-up about Tim's post, Antony.
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