China Attacks Critics of Human Rights

February 27, 2001 Comments Off

BEIJING, Feb. 27, 01 (CWNews.com) – Communist China,
besieged on all sides regarding its human rights record,
struck out at critics on Tuesday, including the UN, US, and
human rights groups.

The Foreign Ministry slammed visiting UN human rights
commissioner Mary Robinson over her criticism of China’s
treatment of the banned spiritualist Falun Gong movement
and calls for the dismantling of labor camps to which drug
users, prostitutes, and dissidents can sentenced without
trial for up to three years.

A spokesman said China’s “re-education through labor” camps
were a compassionate means of dealing with social problems
and likened its campaign against the outlawed Falun Gong
spiritual movement to a war on drugs. “The authorities
treat those people receiving re-education like teachers
treat students, like doctors treat patients and like
parents treat children,” said Liu Jing, head of the State
Council Office for Prevention and Handling of Cults.

The ministry also struck out against the US State
Department which had released a report on the human rights
situation around the world in 2000, saying the US should
not criticize China while it struggles with many social
ills of its own.

The human rights issue has gained unprecedented prominence
this month with an inspection of Beijing’s bid for the 2008
Olympic Games, human rights groups’ new allegations of China
abuses, and Robinson’s visit.