The Chinese dictators are running scared of a people’s uprising and are preparing to clamp down and crack down even more severely on protesters through a proposed new law.
After the communist regime’s recent announcement that it plans to tighten controls of social networks, now there is another, even more ominous “anti-terrorism” law in the works. But it’s not about combating actual terrorists, it’s about cracking down on ordinary citizens, scholars and rights activists say.
The law would define terrorist activities and related groups, and also establish agencies and procedures for identifying terrorist organizations and their members.
Some legal professionals and many netizens worry that the regime will use the new law as a cover to handle social conflicts and public grievances and to more openly and aggressively crack down on human rights activists and other political dissidents.
Renowned Mainland Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Zhang Jiangkang said, the Chinese communist party’s seeking legislation to define terrorist activity may have to do with its current crisis in dealing with both internal and external conflicts.
“In the name of combating terrorism, what little bit of press and speech freedom that citizens currently have will be suppressed,” Zhang said.
If the activity of any group is perceived as a threat to the various levels of government or the party, it could then easily be labeled as terrorist activity. This could, for example, directly affect petitioners who protest in groups. But this definition of terrorism deviates from the internationally accepted definition, according to Zhang.
Zhang said the definition approved by the legislative body should be the most authoritative definition, but public opinion should also be heard, and the Chinese government should follow internationally accepted definitions.
“The regime wants to remove internal conflicts under the banner of fighting terrorists and [at the same time] mislead international media. This allows it to increase its efforts of oppressing civilian opposition, and also divert the attention of the international community,” Zhang said.
Intimidating State Agencies
On Oct. 24, the Chinese regime’s State Council submitted a draft called “Resolution Regarding Enhancing Anti-Terrorist Efforts” to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) for legislative approval.
According to information posted on the Chinese National People’s Congress website and official state media websites, the definition of terrorist activity defined in the draft is as follows: “Behavior aimed at generating social panic; intimidating state agencies or international organizations; resulting in, or intending to cause casualties, major economic loss, damage to public facilities, or social disorder through violence, destruction, threats, or other means.”
Stirring up, funding, or assisting these activities are also mentioned as constituting terrorist activities.
The draft also proposed regulations to freeze funding accounts of people associated with terrorist organizations.
Vice Minister of Public Security Yang Huanning explained during the 23rd session of the 11th NPCSC assembly that current laws do not have clear definitions of terrorist organizations and those related to the organizations.
Maintaining Authoritarian Rule
With Gadhafi and other dictators crashing down recently, the Chinese regime’s promotion of anti-terrorism is for its own self-protection, Internet activist Tianli told The Epoch Times.
More obviously, by using a term that’s accepted in other societies, it’s to create a cover for suppression in the event of a possible crisis, he said.
The State Council’s definition of terrorism is very hard for the general public to accept, Han Yicun, a renowned Beijing lawyer and political scholar, told Voice of America (VOA).
“We cannot accept the explanations given by the State Council. They are rooted in the interests of the government and the ruling officials, and are not [meant] to benefit society and humanity. Expanding the definition of terrorism will lead to abuses of the criminal law. Terrorist activities should only be [defined as] those using violent means, that are anti-society, anti-humanity, that create terror for society, and endanger public interests,” Han said.
Human Rights Activist He Peirong from Nanjing told VOA, she feels quite emotional after hearing about this resolution, as this draft seems to be tailored to target her. However, she is only collecting funding to fight for the fundamental rights of citizens, and she will not give up her rights, she said.
“I believe, no resolution will stop the progress of Chinese society and the civil movements in China,” He said.
Read the original Chinese article.
