This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/08/china-detains-activist-liu-ping
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China detains activist Liu Ping on subversion charges | China detains activist Liu Ping on subversion charges |
| (12 days later) | |
| Chinese police have detained an activist agitating for officials to disclose their assets on subversion charges, her lawyer said on Wednesday, underscoring the limits of an anti-corruption push by President Xi Jinping. | Chinese police have detained an activist agitating for officials to disclose their assets on subversion charges, her lawyer said on Wednesday, underscoring the limits of an anti-corruption push by President Xi Jinping. |
| Xi, who became Communist party chief in November and president in March, has called for a crackdown on corruption, warning, as many have before him, that the problem is so severe it could threaten the party's survival. | Xi, who became Communist party chief in November and president in March, has called for a crackdown on corruption, warning, as many have before him, that the problem is so severe it could threaten the party's survival. |
| But China has detained at least 10 activists who have led a campaign for officials to publicly disclose their wealth – the first co-ordinated crackdown by the new government on activists, according to Maya Wang, a researcher with the Asia division at Human Rights Watch. | But China has detained at least 10 activists who have led a campaign for officials to publicly disclose their wealth – the first co-ordinated crackdown by the new government on activists, according to Maya Wang, a researcher with the Asia division at Human Rights Watch. |
| The detention of Liu Ping, 48, makes her the first person to be singled out by the government for putting pressure on officials over their wealth. | The detention of Liu Ping, 48, makes her the first person to be singled out by the government for putting pressure on officials over their wealth. |
| Police from Xinyu, in the southern province of Jiangxi, detained Liu for "inciting subversion of state power", her lawyer, Zheng Jianwei, said. The charge is often levelled against critics of the party. | Police from Xinyu, in the southern province of Jiangxi, detained Liu for "inciting subversion of state power", her lawyer, Zheng Jianwei, said. The charge is often levelled against critics of the party. |
| Police could not be reached for comment. | Police could not be reached for comment. |
| Liu, who has also advocated on women's rights issues, last year started demanding that officials disclose their assets, Zheng said. She took her campaign to the internet and to fellow Chinese. | Liu, who has also advocated on women's rights issues, last year started demanding that officials disclose their assets, Zheng said. She took her campaign to the internet and to fellow Chinese. |
| Zheng said he did not know the exact reason for Liu's detention, but added that he had warned her "to be aware of her actions" six months ago. | Zheng said he did not know the exact reason for Liu's detention, but added that he had warned her "to be aware of her actions" six months ago. |
| "I felt that her profile was too high, I thought she should quieten her heart and just carry out very basic activities for citizens' rights and the law," Zheng said. "But Liu Ping is a person who can't be idle." | "I felt that her profile was too high, I thought she should quieten her heart and just carry out very basic activities for citizens' rights and the law," Zheng said. "But Liu Ping is a person who can't be idle." |
| Xi's ascendancy in a once-in-a-decade generational leadership transition had given many Chinese hope for political reform, spurring citizens to push officials to disclose their wealth in several movements throughout the country. | Xi's ascendancy in a once-in-a-decade generational leadership transition had given many Chinese hope for political reform, spurring citizens to push officials to disclose their wealth in several movements throughout the country. |
| Xu Zhiyong, the founder of one such movement, said he was being held under house arrest and that "it could be due to his campaign to push for asset disclosure". | Xu Zhiyong, the founder of one such movement, said he was being held under house arrest and that "it could be due to his campaign to push for asset disclosure". |
| Wang of Human Rights Watch said the detentions of the anti-corruption activists appeared to be part of a co-ordinated campaign to halt public calls for fighting corruption. | Wang of Human Rights Watch said the detentions of the anti-corruption activists appeared to be part of a co-ordinated campaign to halt public calls for fighting corruption. |
| "How can calling for anti-graft measures be a crime?" Wang said. "Liu Ping's detention makes Xi Jinping's stated policy goal to fight graft seem like tiresome, broken rhetoric." | "How can calling for anti-graft measures be a crime?" Wang said. "Liu Ping's detention makes Xi Jinping's stated policy goal to fight graft seem like tiresome, broken rhetoric." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |