Human rights in China suffered in 2007, activists and experts say, with heavy-handed crackdowns on dissidents and petitioners as well as tougher curbs on freedom of expression and religion. “The worst period of China’s human rights violation in the last five years was when the Chinese Communist Party held its 17th Congress” in October, dissident and rights activist Hu Jia said in an interview. “People involved in the Congress security arrangement totaled almost 1 million. It was out of fear that unmanageable protests might erupt while the meeting was in session,” Hu said. At the same time, authorities warned dissidents and activists against traveling or publishing. Continue reading »
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