A voice in the wilderness
China Communist Elder Issues Bold Call For Democracy"In a bold jab before a key meeting of China's Communists, a 90-year-old former secretary to Mao Zedong has urged the Party to embrace democracy, saying that only political freedom can end instability and corruption.
"Li Rui issued his demand for citizens' rights and legal shackles on Party power in a Beijing magazine, China Across the Ages (Yanhuang Chunqiu), just over two weeks before President Hu Jintao opens the 17th Party Congress, which is set to give him five more years in power...
"In the October edition of the outspoken magazine, Li said his country could be dragged back into past decades of chaos unless long-delayed democratization catches up with three decades of market reforms, ending the Party's 'privileged status.'...
"Li's challenge to one-party control is the boldest yet in a series of strikingly candid calls for liberalization from older Party intellectuals this year...
"Li argued that only empowered citizens could end the corruption he said was rotting the foundations of Party rule...
"Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said it will be a long time before his country is ready to directly elect even low-ranking officials, arguing that swift reform would be a recipe for chaos..."
Labels: China, political culture, politics
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:13 AM
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Premier: China to insist on reform, opening-up for harmonious society
"Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed... Sunday the government's determination to advance reform and opening-up on the eve of the 58th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China(PRC), two weeks ahead of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
"At a reception in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing marking the anniversary, Wen cited the upcoming CPC congress, which is proposed to convene on Oct. 15, as 'a congress of great importance to be held at a time when China's reform and development have entered a crucial stage.'
"'We are on a path of building socialism with distinctive Chinese features, also a broad path to China's rejuvenation, development and prosperity,' Wen said.
"The premier pointed out that China will become a prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious modern socialist country if it adheres to the path of scientific development.
"'We are confident that so long as we are committed to following the path of building socialism with distinctive Chinese features and reform and opening-up, we can surely build China into a modern socialist country of prosperity, democracy, high ethical standards and harmony,' he said..."
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