Chinese officials in Tibet sentenced four Tibetans to prison terms ranging from three to six years yesterday. The Chinese government cited dispersing information about a recent self-immolation as the crime of the Tibetans on trial. In addition to their prison sentences, the Tibetans will also have their political rights stripped upon release.
Archive for the ‘New Museum’ Category
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America’s top diplomat, Secretary of State John Kerry, is set to meet with China’s new leadership some time today. Perhaps the paramount human rights issue that is scheduled to be discussed during the meeting is China’s treatment of the Tibetan people. According to The Tibetan Post, twenty-one US senators have reached out to Kerry in hopes of pressuring the Secretary of State to make real demands on behalf of Tibet.
Please read the entire article on the The Tibetan Post here.
Sections of Xingjiao Temple, a 1,300 year old Bhuddist temple, are currently being targeted by the Chinese government for demolition. In what is apparently a masked attempt at curbing religious freedom in China, the Chinese government has claimed that demolishing certain sections of the Xingjiao Temple will make the rest of the temple’s application as a UNESCO World Heritage site more appealing. The Bhuddist community, however, believes that any tampering with the Xingjiao Temple is a direct insult to the sanctity of the temple.
Imagine if the United States’ government destroyed certain parts of a church despite the protest of Church officials… this is the dilemma.
Apple Appeases Chinese Government, Censors Politically Controversial App
Posted: April 9, 2013 in New MuseumRecently Apple gave into demands from the Chinese government and censored an app that gave access to books that lobby for Tibetan independence. This latest move by Apple is just another example of the leverage that the Chinese government has in conducting business with Western tech companies. Please stand with the Laogai Museum and the Laogai Research Foundation by sharing your displeasure with Apple over their policy of belittling freedom of expression in exchange for access to the Chinese market.
Read the entire press release here
Although probably another false promise, the Chinese government is expressing some interest in reforming a policy that has haunted Chinese women and human rights sympathizers everywhere: the One Child Policy. Please read the following press release and join the fight alongside the Laogai Research Foundation in ending the human rights abuses of forced birth control in China.
Harry Wu welcomed his second class visit of the day. Interested students from Northern Virginia Community College came to the Laogai Museum and heard Mr. Wu’s testimony. If you would like to meet with Harry Wu personally and receive a guided tour of the museum, please contact the Laogai Museum.
American University U.S. Foreign Policy Students Tour Museum with Harry Wu
Posted: March 29, 2013 in New Museum
The Laogai museum welcomed a class of foreign policy students from American University today. Museum founder Harry Wu gave a two hour tour to the students complete with an account of his own harrowing story in the Laogai camp system. Mr. Wu’s testimony was met with applause and a round of questions and answers.
Remember, Harry Wu is delighted by museum visitors and is willing to give tours to any visitors (provided an appointment is scheduled through the museum).
Escaping North Korea is no easy task. Just as China was during the Cultural Revolution, North Korea’s grip on its citizens is incredibly tight and unforgiving. However, some North Korean citizens are able to flee to China in hopes of a better life. Apparently China has put international relations concerns over human rights concerns. According to The International, China’s police have tightened surveillance on North Korean refugees and punish them by deporting them back to North Korea where they will face hard labor in North Korean gulags or quite possibly, “firing squads.”
Please read the entire article from The International: Click here!
Workers’ Rights & Labor Activism in China
Hong Dongfang 韓東方 is an advocate for Chinese workers’ rights who has received numerous international
awards, including the 1993 Democracy Award from the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy. He was instrumental in
establishing the first non-state organized labor union in China during the 1989 Tiananmen Demonstrations and was
imprisoned for nearly 2 years without trial for his role in that historic event. For more than two decades, Han Dongfang and
his team at the Hong Kong-based China Labor Bulletin (which he co-founded in 1994) have been working closely with
migrant workers, labor union leaders, and various NGOs to help defend and promote labors’ rights in China.
For more details please contact Michael Chang,
Professsor of Chinese History (mchang5@gmu.edu).
Monday, April 1, 2013
Reception and Refreshments at 7:00 p.m.
Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.
Time & Location
This event is free and open to the public.
George Mason University
Mason Hall, Room D003 A & B
4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
Presented by George Mason University
with support from
the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations’ Public Intellectuals Program (PIP),
which is funded by the Henry Luce and C.V. Starr Foundations
as well as with co-sponsorship from George Mason University’s
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of History and Art History
Program in Global Affairs , Department of Public and International Affairs,
and Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
