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China Tries Man Who Resisted Official Policy

A Chinese man who fought against forced abortions and sterilizations of women in the Shandong province of the People`s Republic has gone on trial in the Communist country. Mr. Chen Guangcheng was put under house arrest in September 2005 for what were alleged to be "public order offenses". Chen accused Shandong officials of violating family planning laws by enforcing China`s one-child policy. Amnesty International, a "human rights" group that has a spotty record of overlooking some human rights abuses, says Chen is not receiving a fair trial.

Prior to the start of the trial, three lawyers involved in the case were arrested, but two have since been set free by Chinese officials. The People`s Republic of China is not known for its commitment to human rights, and one Chinese lawyers, Li Fangping, told international media outlets that Mr. Chen is being represented against his will by two state-appointed lawyers. Furthermore, Chen`s wife says she has been barred from attending the trial, which resembling a show-trial apparently lasted about two hours.

Getting back to the Amnesty International angle of the story, Ms. Corinna-Barbara Francis says, "It is Chen Guangcheng`s fundamental right to have the lawyers of his choice and to have family members attend his trial. Their attitude epitomizes the general pattern of obstruction towards human rights lawyers in China." That Amnesty International is known to have delusional attitudes toward international reality is likely the reason that China doesn`t grant people the rights civilized democracies do.