China

China controls almost every aspect of the residents’ lives. They control and direct judicial institutions and decisions. The Chinese Government controls what people print and write online. Those who do not comply are subjected to instant dismissal, prosecution, or lengthy imprisonment. The Government denies worker’s benefits such as medical care and children’s education. There is also a ban on independent trade units. Women have almost no rights and are victims of violence, gender-based discrimination and unequal access to services and employment. In 2008 when the Olympics were held in China, the Government obstructed journalists from reporting on corruption, detention facilities, and other unjust civil practices. Some previously blocked websites of international human rights organizations were temporarily unblocked so the visitors would not become suspicious. All protests were denied during the time of the Olympics. 

www.hrw.org/en/rode/79301

http://img3.visualizeus.com/thumbs/10/01/04/censorship,china,human,rights,political,politics,protest-8070bc310da146960b0a5ff0ae5da2b6_h.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2COZeCrvpg

http://www.nowallsgallery.com/cms/prodimages/Shepard_Fairey_Chinese_Soldiers_2.jpg

The Tiananmen Protest- 1989

The protest began on April 14, 1989 by students when people wanted economic change and democratic reform. They were concerned with the social controls that the Communist Party of China had. The protest last 7 weeks and remained peaceful until the People’s Liberation Army sent troops, tanks and set live fires in the streets. The government was arresting the protesters and their supporters even though article 20 says that everyone has the freedom to assemble peacefully. The human rights of these people were denied because they were punished for assembling peacefully. The government began to ban any news on the event to the public. They did not allow any foreign press into the country. They did not want this incident spreading around the world. By the end of the protest, over 100,00 students and workers had gathered in Tiananmen Square. Protests began in other parts of China.

The true number of deaths will probably never be known, and it is possible that thousands of people were killed without leaving evidence behind.

Nicholas Kristof- NY Times
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989

http://thewall.civiblog.org/rsf/tian_marchingstudents.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDKVEprC948&feature=related

Tibet

China and Tibet signed a treaty in 1856 that stated, that all Tibetans must agree to regard Chinese Emperors with respect. This was when China first gained control over Tibet. China claims to have liberated the citizens of Tibet. Tibet was a small, religious and independent nation. At first, China did not get very involved in altering Tibet because they were fighting in the wars. In 1949, communists in China began to become more powerful in China. The People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet in 1950. China gained complete control over Tibet in 1951 but still did not want to have a social reform so Tibet was still in traditional Tibet Society. After a few years, they began to abolish slavery and unpaid labor. They also eliminated many taxes. They started work projects and schools to reduce unemployment and beggary. They also got electricity and water. Unrest began to arise in Tibet when China stated to reform the land in 1956. A year later, Tibetan’s ambushed China’s People’s Liberation Army and received help from the United States. In 1965, China’s Communist Party took over the government in Tibet. They destroyed over 6000 monasteries and killed, tortured, and imprisoned many nuns and Buddhist monks. In 2008, they imposed curfews and limited access to certain parts of Tibet.

http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2000/05/01/tibet-1950
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Tibet#Rule_of_the_Chinese_Communist_government

http://www.freespiritfestival.com/images/photos/olympics_protest_banner_in_beijing-20040831.jpg

This image shows how the people in Tibet feel captured and enslaved by China.  They want to desperately be freed.

Refused Mail

In China, they will only send specific mail. They search through the packages and decide whether it will be delivered to the recipient.

http://www.amnesty.ca/site_images/managed/china_petitions_returned_2.jpg

This is a package that was sent from Canada to China and the Government of China refused to deliver the package.

Opinion

China has barely any human rights. They torture and discriminate their own people and try to dominate other countries as well. Since they are such a huge power in the world, it is very hard to stop them. They are trying to hide their lack of human rights from the world too. When the people stood up for human rights in Tiananmen Square, they were peaceful but the government still fought against them. They were very courageous to do so. When China invaded Tibet, they destroyed a country that was fine on its own and took away human rights. They ruined the lives of their own people and Tibet’s people as well.  

Links

http://china.hrw.org/press/oped/censorship_isnt_good_for_chinas_health

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/chinese-woman-sentenced-year-labour-camp-over-tweet-2010-11-17

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/6996906/Chinese-human-rights-activists-claim-their-Google-emails-were-hacked.html

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/international/countriesandterritories/china/tiananmen-square/index.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/world/asia/10china.html?
_r=1&scp=1&sq=china%20bars%20travel%20for%20two%20activists&st=cse