Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Chinese Abortion Workers Arrested
From LifeSite.
Several Chinese population control officials in Linyi have been arrested or fired after reports surfaced that they were involved in forced abortions and sterilizations. The surprising actions came after a local advocate who exposed the problems was detained under house arrest for 30 hours.
An official Chinese media outlet reports that the abuses were taking place in the eastern province of Shandong. Chen Guangcheng, the detained activist, told Time magazine in an interview before the arrest that 7,000 area people had been sterilized against their will.
China's National Population and Family Planning Commission said it had received "successive complaints" about the sterilizations and abortions in Linyi, a city of 10 million people 400 miles southeast of Beijing.
"Some persons concerned in a few counties and townships of Linyi did commit practices that violated law and infringed upon legitimate rights and interests of citizens while conducting family planning work," the commission said in a statement.
Yu Xuejun, NPFPC spokesman, said "Initial investigation indicates illegal family planning practices that violate people's legal rights and interests do exist."
"Those who are responsible have been dismissed from duty. Some are under investigation, some in detention. Further measures will be taken by government departments concerned according to legal competence and procedure," he said
It appears that Chen Guangcheng's revelations, combined with the decision of the US not to fund the UNFPA motivated the Chinese government to take action on these abuses. However there is no indication that the siege against the blind activist will be lifted.
Several Chinese population control officials in Linyi have been arrested or fired after reports surfaced that they were involved in forced abortions and sterilizations. The surprising actions came after a local advocate who exposed the problems was detained under house arrest for 30 hours.
An official Chinese media outlet reports that the abuses were taking place in the eastern province of Shandong. Chen Guangcheng, the detained activist, told Time magazine in an interview before the arrest that 7,000 area people had been sterilized against their will.
China's National Population and Family Planning Commission said it had received "successive complaints" about the sterilizations and abortions in Linyi, a city of 10 million people 400 miles southeast of Beijing.
"Some persons concerned in a few counties and townships of Linyi did commit practices that violated law and infringed upon legitimate rights and interests of citizens while conducting family planning work," the commission said in a statement.
Yu Xuejun, NPFPC spokesman, said "Initial investigation indicates illegal family planning practices that violate people's legal rights and interests do exist."
"Those who are responsible have been dismissed from duty. Some are under investigation, some in detention. Further measures will be taken by government departments concerned according to legal competence and procedure," he said
It appears that Chen Guangcheng's revelations, combined with the decision of the US not to fund the UNFPA motivated the Chinese government to take action on these abuses. However there is no indication that the siege against the blind activist will be lifted.
papijoe 6:29 AM
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