China jails dissidents, stifles press ahead of major conference

The Chinese government has ordered the press to print only positive news in the run-up an important Communist Party conference:

Media controls have been tightened, Aids activists detained and NGOs shut down as president Hu Jintao prepares for the 17th party congress, when the next generation of national leaders will be unveiled in a politburo reshuffle.

Chen Shuqing, who is a founder member of the banned China Democracy party, suffered the toughest punishment meted out so far when he was found guilty on Thursday of "inciting people to overthrow the government". [Guardian]

Nobody knows when the conference is going to happen, because the date is secret.

Reporters without Borders has more on the Chen Shuqing case.

Comments

[josh jasper]

In other news, Russia has started fliing long range bomber flights, and is accused of shooting a missile into Georgia for no known reason, and China, Russia and Iran all met to discuss how America has to leave Central Asia.

The pictures of the heads of state of Russia and Chine and Iran all chumming it up are really chilling.