NPR reports…. A new report by Amnesty International says China has intensified its crackdown on activists and particularly lawyers. It says there has been a disregard of national laws, noting at least four cases this year in which lawyers were threatened with violence by the authorities.
NPR write on their website…
Lawyer Yan Yiming is still recovering from injuries after he was beaten by three men with iron bars and a hammer in the conference room of his Shanghai law firm.
Weekend Edition Sunday, May 3, 2009 · A new report by Amnesty International says China has intensified its crackdown on activists and particularly lawyers. It says there has been a disregard of national laws, noting at least four cases this year in which lawyers were threatened with violence by the authorities.
Some fear the situation is deteriorating.
Lawyer Yan Yiming was called to his law firm’s conference room in Shanghai to give advice to three men. When he turned around to write on a whiteboard, he was suddenly assaulted. The three men beat him with iron bars and a hammer.
During the April attack, one thought flashed through Yan’s mind: "I’ve been a rights defender for 10 years, and many different people have threatened me many different times. Now, finally, those threats had become a reality," he says.
Yan staggered out the door, and his attackers ran away, leaving him with a broken right shoulder and a fractured left shoulder. The police acted quickly, and within a week had detained four people in connection with the attack.
So far, Yan doesn’t know who ordered the attack or why. He has made many enemies over the years, through his work in environmental protection, defending shareholders and pushing for government transparency. He knew the risks.
"China is changing from a society ruled by men to one ruled by laws, but we’re not even halfway yet. Rule of man is much stronger. Eight of the top 10 whistleblowers have been arrested. Those who fight corruption get caught," he says.
Full Report http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103733164
See Amnesty Piece here http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/china-crackdown-activists-intensifies-rule-law-ignored-20090430
