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发帖数: 1846 | 1 China academics warn of "violent revolution" if no political reform
By Ben Blanchard
BEIJING (Reuters) - A prominent group of Chinese academics has warned in a
bold open letter that the country risks "violent revolution" if the
government does not respond to public pressure and allow long-stalled
political reforms.
The 73 scholars, including well-known current and retired legal experts at
top universities and lawyers, said political reform had not matched the
quick pace of economic expansion.
"If reforms to the system urgently needed by Chinese society keep being
frustrated and stagnate without progress, then official corruption and
dissatisfaction in society will boil up to a crisis point and China will
once again miss the opportunity for peaceful reform, and slip into the
turbulence and chaos of violent revolution," they wrote.
The letter began being circulated on the Internet earlier this month, but
online references to it in Chinese media reports have now been removed.
The government, which since 1949 has been controlled by the Communist Party,
needed to push democracy and independence of the judiciary as well as
deepen market reforms, the letter said.
He Weifang, a law professor at Peking University and one of the signatories,
told Reuters he believed the demands were rather moderate, but that now was
the time to make them as President Hu Jintao prepared to hand over the
reins of state power to Xi Jinping, who was made party chief in November.
"We have come to that period again when the leadership is changing. People
expect continuing advances when it comes to reform of the political system,"
he said.
"The Chinese people, including intellectuals, have been talking about this
for a while, but little has happened. So I think we have the opportunity now
to push it again."
Other signatories include Zhang Sizhi, defense lawyer for Mao Zedong's widow
, Jiang Qing, leader of the "Gang of Four" that wielded supreme power during
the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution. She was given a suspended death sentence
in 1981 for the deaths of tens of thousands during that period of chaos.
About 65 Chinese academics, lawyers and human rights activists have signed a
similar letter demanding top party members reveal their financial assets,
saying it is the most fundamental way to end corruption.
Analysts have been searching for signs that China's new leaders might steer
a path of political reform, whether by allowing freer expression on the
Internet, greater experimentation with grassroots democracy or releasing
jailed dissidents.
But the party, which brooks no dissent to its rule and values stability
above all else, has so far shown little sign of wanting to go down this path
, despite Xi trying to project a softer and more open image than his
predecessor.
However, Xi himself warned shortly after becoming party boss that if
corruption were allowed to run wild, the party risked major unrest and the
collapse of its rule.
The letter said democracy, rule of law and respect of human rights were "a
global trend that could not be stopped".
"China's 100 years of bloody and violent history - especially the painful
and tragic lesson of the decade-long Cultural Revolution - show that once we
go against the tide of democracy, human rights, rule of law and
constitutional government, the people will suffer disaster and social and
political stability will be impossible," the letter said.
(Additional reporting by John Ruwitch in Shanghai; Editing by Nick Macfie) |
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