| Last night I posted about my neighbor, James Powderly, and 5 other Brooklynites who were arrested in Beijing for daring to speak out about the Chinese occupation of Tibet during the Olympics. Today we learn that 6 unnamed Americans were sentenced by the Chinese police to 10 days in "administrative detention."
Six foreigners given 10 days' detention: Beijing police
Beijing police said Thursday it had handed out 10-day detention terms to six foreigners believed by an overseas activist group to be pro-Tibet campaigners involved in Olympic protests this week.
In a brief faxed statement, the city police information department said "Thomas" and five other foreigners had been apprehended on Tuesday for "upsetting public order", without identifying the six people any further.
"Beijing police decided to give the six 10 days of administrative detention," the faxed statement said.
Administrative detention is a punishment that can be meted out by Chinese police without having to go through the courts.
Students For a Free Tibet said it assumed the six were American pro-Tibet activists who police detained in Beijing on Tuesday.
I hope they won't actually be held that long and will soon be back here in Brooklyn. That said, I think it's instructive to take a look at the way justice is dispensed in China. Americans who speak out get 10 days. Elderly Chinese grannies who just wanted the chance to speak out get a year's worth of "re-education through labor."
Tibetans who speak up get "shot like dogs."
On the web: Students for a Free Tibet. |
