John von Doussa is a man so flexible that had he not pursued the law he might have considered gymnastics or yoga instruction as happy if not as remunerative alternatives.
As Andrew Bolt and Rowan Callick have pointed out, Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission president gave an extraordinary interview on the Beijing government's propaganda channel - fronted by our very own Edwin Maher/Tokyo Rose - where he basically said that the Beijing government's human rights abuses were exaggerated in the west and that China was much more progressive than it appeared.
Consider first Mr von Doussa's own record which includes condemning Australian anti-terrorism laws as belonging to a "police state".
And also his concern that while PM Rudd's apology was good that the "gross violations of fundamental human rights caused to Aborigines" in areas of "health, housing, education and employment."
Many people would agree with him on those things but the inconsistency in attitude is remarkable. While it is true that China has been an economic success in recent years, there is little to celebrate in the way it treats its own citizens. Rather than exaggerate for the purposes of getting attention our own problems and minimising the obvious outrages prevailing in China, wouldn't it be great if the taxpayer funded Human Rights boss told the truth about the Beijing government.
Courtesy of Amnesty, this seems a good summary of the human rights situation in China. No doubt it's better than it was under Mao but it is still a record that sits very uncomfortably with John von Doussa's weird defence.
Death penalty
Have the Chinese authorities reduced the number of crimes punishable by the death penalty?
No. There are around 68 crimes punishable by execution in China, including tax fraud, counterfeiting money and smuggling cultural relics.
Have the Chinese authorities published the number of executions?
No. The number of executions in China remains an official state secret. According to reliable estimates, on average China secretly executes up to 600 prisoners every year.
Have the Chinese authorities provided access and information to families and lawyers of those facing death penalty?
No. They are still refused information and access. In some cases, families are unaware that the execution has taken place and are refused the body to bury, for example the cases of Wu Zhenjiang and Niu Shubin.
Have the Chinese authorities provided justice for Nie Shubin's family?
No. Nie Shubin was executed in 1995 for a crime he did not commit. His family were given no information about his situation after the trial and were only aware of his death after his father went to take him some food in prison. They continue to fight for compensation for his wrongful execution.
Have the Chinese authorities provided justice for Wu Zhenjiang's family?
No. Wu Zhenjiang was executed in January 2005. His family say that they were not allowed to meet with him after his first instance trial and were never given his body to bury. They continue to struggle to obtain more information on his case, in particular what happened to his body.
Fair trials & the prevention of torture
Have the Chinese authorities ensured fair trails and an to detention without trial?
No. They continue to operate trials that are not in accordance with international standards and have failed to put an end to punitive detention without trial.
Have the Chinese authorities abolished 'Re-education through Labour' and 'enforced drug Rehabilitation'?
No. Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to be held in RTL facilities across China, many in harsh conditions. They include critics of the government and followers of banned beliefs.
Have the Chinese authorities prevented the use of RTL in cleaning up of Beijing's streets ahead of the games?
No. The system of "Re-education" through Labour remains intact and available for use by the Beijing police as a tool to sweep "undesirables" off the streets as part of the pre-Olympics clean up of Beijing.
Have the Chinese authorities freed prisoner of Conscience Bu Dongwei?
No. Bu Dongwei was assigned two-and-a-half-years' Re-education through labour in June 2006 in connection with his activities as a member of the peaceful Falun Gong spiritual movement.
Human rights defenders
Have the Chinese authorities started to respect the rights of human rights defenders?
No. The crackdown on human rights activists has actually intensified over the past year and several peaceful activists remain imprisoned or held under tight police surveillance.
Have the Chinese authorities started to allow human rights defenders to do their work?
No. Those standing up for human rights; whether through peaceful protest or petitioning the authorities to improve human rights, continue to be punished and detained. They are denied access to a fair trial according to international standards.
Have the Chinese authorities released human rights defender Shi Tao?
No. Shi Tao remains imprisoned for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression, by sending an email summarising a government communiqué to a website in the USA.
Have the Chinese authorities released human rights defender Chen Guangcheng?
No. Chen Guangcheng is serving a prison sentence that appears to be intended to prevent him from carrying out peaceful and legitimate human rights activities.
Have the Chinese authorities released human rights defender Ye Guozhou?
No. Ye Guzhou is serving four years in prison after he applied for official permission to hold a demonstration against alleged forced evictions in Beijing. He is believed to have been tortured in detention.
Have the Chinese authorities released human rights defender Hu Jia?
No. Hu Jia is currently detained in Bejing after an unfair trial. He is a prisoner of conscience detained solely in violation of his fundamental human rights to freedom of opinion and expression.
Have the Chinese authorities provided justice for the Tiananmen Mothers?
No. The Tiananmen Mothers continue to call for justice for their loved ones killed or injured in the military crackdown on the 1989 pro-democracy movement.
Freedom of expression
Have the Chinese authorities provided full media freedom to all journalists?
No. Foreign journalists continue to be obstructed from reporting on issues deemed sensitive by the authorities despite the introduction of new regulations last year. Chinese journalists continue to work under conditions of tight control and censorship.
Have the Chinese authorities ensured that no-one is arrested and/or tried for the legitimate use of the internet?
No. Internet censorship remains pervasive in China with few signs that the authorities are prepared to relax policies of surveillance and control.
Have the Chinese authorities released those detained for the legitimate use of the internet such as Huang Jinqui and Yang Tongyan?
No. Huang Jinqui and Yang Tongyan is serving a 12 year sentence in Pukou and Nanjing City prison, where he continues to be ill-treated, for their online writings.
Game on.
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