Before Obama's human-rights speech, China rounds up dissidents

November 16, 2009

In advance of a Shanghai speech on human rights by US President Barack Obama, Chinese police placed about 20 political dissidents under house arrests, or ordered them to take "vacations" outside the city, in order to ensure a properly calm environment for the American leader's speech. The Chinese government has a pattern of cracking down on dissidents in advance of any high-profile event.

In related news, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, has written to Chinese Catholics, encouraging them to promote reconciliation within the Church. The cardinal's letter, patterned after Pope Benedict's May 2007 letter to the Chinese faithful, calls upon the Catholics of China to remain loyal to the universal Church while working toward an end to the division between the 'underground' Chinese Church, which rejects government interference, and the 'official' Church recognized by the regime.

 

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Further information:

• Barack Obama talks about human rights, the police arrests 20 dissidents and activists (AsiaNews)
• Letter of Card. Bertone to priests of China (AsiaNews)