I picked up an article about Hu Jia yesterday in the NYTimes getting awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. If you don't know, Hu has been in captivity since Dec. 2007 and convicted last spring for organizing an underground human rights advocacy group. I must say, I am inspired. His wife, Zeng Jinyan, was a blogger that documented his disappearance while pursued by China's secret police.
The award to Mr. Hu is an embarrassment for the Communist Party two months after China’s successful staging of the Olympic Games. During the Olympics, the Chinese government proved it could smoothly manage the world’s biggest sporting event, but the government also prevented demonstrations at designated protest zones, instituted broad censorship restrictions on the domestic news media and placed numerous dissidents under house arrest or surveillance.
Mr. Hu’s conviction in April was part of a nationwide crackdown against dissidents in what many human rights advocates considered a pre-Olympic silencing campaign. Mr. Hu, a Buddhist, has dedicated himself to a range of issues during the past 12 years, including environmental protection, helping AIDS patients, championing the legal rights of Chinese citizens and promoting greater democracy.
He also used a personal Web site and e-mail messages to become a one-man clearinghouse of information on rights abuses and other controversies that officials preferred to keep quiet.
Like I've said before, I think China has come along way since the days of Mao and Deng Xiaoping and they still have a lot of work to do with respect to the rights of its citizens. I'm glad there are people there that know the meaning of sacrifice and act according to their morals regardless of the ramifications. This is truly honorable in that he has been resistant in the face of the Chinese government time and time again.
Now that's Minority Militant 101, Hu. We stand by you!
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4 comments:
You know, this guy might actually be the real deal! Too often, so called "Chinese activists" are no more than pro-white opportunists who really don't care about Chinese people. Like that stupid Ann Lau and Wang Dan, who go on about "democracy" in China but have no clue about the day to day struggles of average Chinese people. Dipshits like Ann Lau eventually end up working for some conservative American think tank; and Wang Dan eventually becomes a liner note for Bono and U2.
ANYWAYS.... Hu Jia might actually be the real deal here, from what I've heard of him. Someone who actually cares about Chinese people and who is not just in it for personal gain. We'll see if he stays true to the Chinese people or if he decides to sell out.
He's definitely the real deal. He keeps getting in trouble over and over again and demands the terms under which he's being held. That's truly honorable!
No, the real test if he is the "real deal" is whether or not he sells out to some arrogant China-bashing American organization like one of those right wing think-tanks. You know, like Ann Lau or Wang Dan.
If this guy keeps fighting for the Chinese and STAYS IN CHINA, then I will hold him up as a true hero. On the other hand, if he flies to America at the first opportunity, gives speaches to right-winged think tanks, and writes a best seller bashing China, then I will lump him in the same group as Ann Lau or Gordon Chang.
Honestly, I really hope he is the real deal, because China really need a genuine activist these days.
i see what you're saying. i don't know much about ann lau, actually. i'll look her up. wang dan was never taken seriously. i honestly don't think hu jia has an ulterior motive, which is why i think he has a lot of credibility. plus, no one put him up to it like they did wang dan. i think they granted hu honorary citizenship in france not long ago. he should stay in china and keep fighting the good fight. i guess we'll have to wait.
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