Word: jingsheng
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Dates: during 2001-2001
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...history of timing the release of prominent prisoners to the political calendar. In 1995, it paved the way for First Lady Hillary Clinton to attend a United Nations conference in Beijing by freeing human rights activist and U.S. citizen Harry Wu. Two years later it freed dissident Wei Jingsheng just as President Clinton prepared his own trip. A last-second release of Li or Gao?or both?could give Washington political cover from the anti-China lobby to make the decisions Beijing wants...
...Beijing has a history of releasing dissidents when it can win points internationally; human rights activists call it "hostage politics." Just before the i.o.c. voted in 1993 on Beijing's bid to host the 2000 Games, authorities released famous political prisoners Wang Dan, Wei Jingsheng and Xu Wenli. They remained stubbornly critical of the government and Beijing lost the bid to Sydney by two votes. That's one reason why a quick release of opposition party organizers now is unlikely. Besides, Wang Youcai had challenged the government directly by trying to register his party, insisting that China's constitution guarantees...
...York had been painful?for herself and her parents. As a young Chinese activist, she'd been blacklisted for her role in the 1989 student democracy movement in Tiananmen Square. The government had branded her a dangerous troublemaker for working as personal assistant to high-profile dissident, Wei Jingsheng. And she had endured a brutal 30-month term in a re-education through labor camp, then social and professional ostracism upon her release. In 1997 she made the wrenching decision to leave China to seek political asylum in the U.S. Now "after eating so much bitterness," Meng thought, "the family...