NYT: China Detains 3 ("leading intellectuals") Who Criticized Government

China Detains 3 Who Criticized Government
By JOSEPH KAHN

Published: December 14, 2004


BEIJING, Tuesday, Dec. 14 - The Chinese police on Monday afternoon detained three leading intellectuals who have been critical of the government, apparently stepping up a campaign to silence public dissent.

Yu Jie and Liu Xiaobo, literary figures, and Zhang Zuhua, a political theorist, were detained in raids at their homes, relatives and friends said. Mr. Yu's relatives were handed a warrant that said he was suspected of "participating in activities harmful to the state," said his wife, Liu Min.

Friends said Mr. Yu and Mr. Zhang were released Tuesday morning after police confiscated materials and searched their computers. The status of Mr. Liu remains uncertain, and it is not clear whether any of the three will face charges.

The detentions were the latest in a string of arrests and official harassment of journalists, writers and scholars who have spoken out against government policies or written articles or essays that officials have deemed damaging.

Since President Hu Jintao replaced Jiang Zemin as China's military chief in September, leaving Mr. Hu in full command of China's government, ruling party and army, analysts say the political environment has become more repressive. The scope for discussing sensitive topics in the state-run media has decreased, they said, while the authorities appear intent on punishing people who violate unwritten rules about the limits on free speech....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/14/international/asia/14china.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1103008059-4PE6GyZGfXnsoELq/SnEYA

He taught the Denver Post a lesson. Free speech is fine as long as it is Bushspeak. He has shown he has the narrow minded followers to close down artist displays in NYC. His patriot act allows him the right to detain based on "suspicion".

I first thought this article was about Bush ran by the Christian Science Monitor.