China Sentences Food Safety Advocate to Over Two Years in Prison
jonathanturley
The Chinese have jailed another activist. This time the victim is Zhao Lianhai, the father of a child sickened by one of the country’s food safety scandals. At least six children died from melamine-tainted milk in 2008 and Zhao’s son was injured. More than 300,000 children were left with kidney problems. Zhao has been demanding answers. He just received one in the form of a 2½ years in prison sentence for “disturbing social order.”
Zhao had given interviews with foreign journalists and organized parents holding up small signs in front of a factory. That was enough to send him to jail for years in the worker’s paradise also known as the People’s Republic of China.
The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was just in France (when I was there) and celebrated for his country’s amazing economic success. He has been discussing his move toward democracy and civil liberties with Western media. Just don’t bring a small sign . . .
