From China Law Prof Blog:
Here’s an interesting commentary by Liang Jing (梁京) on the Chen Guangcheng case. Translation below, courtesy of David Kelly.
When I read Yuan Weishi‘s article in Southern Weekend criticizing Sun Yat-sen’s “Second Revolution” not long ago, I could not help but wonder whether Chen Guangcheng’s appeal may have an outcome which will give the world a sense of relief? Friday’s sentencing once again disappointed all people who uphold justice.
What message do the authorities think they are sending the world with the heinous crime they commit in persecuting Chen, a blind civil rights defender, by shameless manipulation of the judiciary? On this question, I am sure that many people would be as puzzled as me. I inferred that their persecution of Chen is chiefly out of fear that the peasants would pursue a large scale liquidation of various illegal family planning practices. Based on this, I published a critique. Later however I spoke with a PRC insider whose grasp of the situation overturned my suppositions. According to him, the State Family Planning Commission actually supports Chen’s criticism of the large-scale use by local government’s of illegal means of family planning. So this issue is not decisive in the authorities’ determination to persecute him.[Full Text]
