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| China raids NGO offices in latest sign of crackdown on dissent | China raids NGO offices in latest sign of crackdown on dissent |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BEIJING — Chinese police raided a high-profile nongovernmental group this week, taking the office’s computers and financial documents, the organization said — the latest action in a growing government crackdown on dissent. | BEIJING — Chinese police raided a high-profile nongovernmental group this week, taking the office’s computers and financial documents, the organization said — the latest action in a growing government crackdown on dissent. |
| About 20 men dressed in police uniforms and claiming to be representatives of a Beijing police bureau barged into the offices of Yirenping, an anti-discrimination NGO, early Tuesday morning, organization members said. | About 20 men dressed in police uniforms and claiming to be representatives of a Beijing police bureau barged into the offices of Yirenping, an anti-discrimination NGO, early Tuesday morning, organization members said. |
| The police also temporarily detained an NGO employee, said the organization, which focuses on eliminating discrimination against disadvantaged groups such as hepatitis B and HIV carriers, women and people with disabilities. | The police also temporarily detained an NGO employee, said the organization, which focuses on eliminating discrimination against disadvantaged groups such as hepatitis B and HIV carriers, women and people with disabilities. |
| For more than two weeks, the Yirenping Center has been campaigning for the release of five women’s rights advocates, whose arrests just ahead of International Women’s Day prompted worldwide condemnation. | For more than two weeks, the Yirenping Center has been campaigning for the release of five women’s rights advocates, whose arrests just ahead of International Women’s Day prompted worldwide condemnation. |
| This week’s raid appears to be retaliation for spotlighting the five women’s plight, said Yirenping co-founder Lu Jun. Details of the raid were made public late Wednesday and early Thursday by the organization. | This week’s raid appears to be retaliation for spotlighting the five women’s plight, said Yirenping co-founder Lu Jun. Details of the raid were made public late Wednesday and early Thursday by the organization. |
| [Chinese law would bring civic groups under state security supervision] | [Chinese law would bring civic groups under state security supervision] |
| The raid happened on the same day the International Olympic Committee arrived in Beijing to begin a four-day inspection to determine whether Beijing should host the 2022 Winter Olympics. The convergence was noted by human rights groups as the latest sign the Chinese government intends to ignore international concerns and specific stipulations laid out by Olympic organizers. | |
| When Beijing was chosen to host the 2008 Olympics, many had hoped that it would help improve the government’s human rights records. But oppression of activists and harassment of NGOs has only worsened, rights groups say. | When Beijing was chosen to host the 2008 Olympics, many had hoped that it would help improve the government’s human rights records. But oppression of activists and harassment of NGOs has only worsened, rights groups say. |
| Calling the Olympic inspection and Yirenping raid “deeply ironic,” Maya Wang, a Human Rights Watch expert, noted that the Olympic Committee’s recently revised strategy document, called Olympic Agenda 2020, “obliges host governments to sign a contract with an explicit anti-discrimination clause.” | Calling the Olympic inspection and Yirenping raid “deeply ironic,” Maya Wang, a Human Rights Watch expert, noted that the Olympic Committee’s recently revised strategy document, called Olympic Agenda 2020, “obliges host governments to sign a contract with an explicit anti-discrimination clause.” |
| The incident, Wang said, “rings alarm bells about the government’s hardening attitudes towards NGOs.” | The incident, Wang said, “rings alarm bells about the government’s hardening attitudes towards NGOs.” |
| Over the past two years, since President Xi Jinping’s rise to power, China has carried out a broad and fierce crackdown on dissent, civil society groups, online bloggers and even academics. Many human rights and advocacy groups abroad and within China have called it the worst crackdown since the period after government troops opened fired on Tiananmen Square protesters in 1989. | |
| The five women’s rights advocates whom the Yirenping organization had been campaigning for were arrested at the beginning of March while planning to hand out leaflets on International Women’s Day to raise awareness against sexual harassment on public transportation. | The five women’s rights advocates whom the Yirenping organization had been campaigning for were arrested at the beginning of March while planning to hand out leaflets on International Women’s Day to raise awareness against sexual harassment on public transportation. |
| Thousands of feminists and rights advocates globally have signed petitions demanding their release. Some Chinese universities have taken measures to stop students from taking part in shows of support for the five women. | Thousands of feminists and rights advocates globally have signed petitions demanding their release. Some Chinese universities have taken measures to stop students from taking part in shows of support for the five women. |
| British and European Union diplomats have also called for the women’s release. Last Friday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said, “If China is committed to advancing the rights of women, then it should be working to address the issues raised by these women’s rights activists — not silencing them.” | |
| When asked about the arrested women, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, “No one has the right to ask China to release relevant persons, so we hope that relevant people will stop interfering in China’s judicial sovereignty in such a manner.” | When asked about the arrested women, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, “No one has the right to ask China to release relevant persons, so we hope that relevant people will stop interfering in China’s judicial sovereignty in such a manner.” |
| According to their attorneys, the women have spent the past few days under repeated interrogation. They were also asked to “admit their mistakes,” the lawyers said. | |
| Wu Rongrong, one of the five women who has hepatitis B, was denied medication for more than a week before she was transferred to the detention center’s medical facility, her attorney said. | Wu Rongrong, one of the five women who has hepatitis B, was denied medication for more than a week before she was transferred to the detention center’s medical facility, her attorney said. |
| Xu Yangjingjing contributed to this report. | Xu Yangjingjing contributed to this report. |
| Read more on China: | |
| How China used more cement in 3 years than the U.S. did in the entire 20th Century | |
| Revamped environmental law raises hope for cleanup in China | |
| China’s new terrorism law provokes anger in U.S., concern at home | |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |