News of the Day (October 11)

Hubei activist survives Taishi beating, barely: Lu Banglie, the political activist who was beaten to a pulp by a Communist-backed mob for his support of Taishi villagers in their attempt to recall and replace corrupt local cadres (“They beat him until he was lifeless” – Guardian, UK), miraculously survived the assault. Despite the merciless beating, Lu “says he remains committed to helping the villagers of Taishi in their battle for democracy and greater political freedom” (BBC). The Communists, meanwhile, insisted “there had been ‘no violence’ and that Mr Lu had ‘pretended to be dead’” (Guardian). They also formally arrested Guo Feixiong, the villagers’ legal advisor (Epoch Times). These were more examples of Communist China’s stance on the villagers’ effort to use the Communists’ own highly touted election law to remove local cadres who illegally pocketed money in a land deal (fifth, tenth, sixth, lead, third, third, and lead items). Among the many weighing in on this is the RConversation blog.

Communists using internet “moles” for cyberprop: Communist China is doing more than an extensive internet crackdown. It has also employed police as propaganda “moles” in chat rooms and bulletin boards to “proactively influence Web content in ways beneficial to the regime—and pre-empt people from organizing politically” (Newsweek).

Communist China’s next space launch set for tomorrow: Communist China “plans to launch its second manned spacecraft on Wednesday morning” (BBC). Meanwhile, Lev Navrozov, Newsmax, sounds the alarm on the Communists’ real space objectives.

Board of Immigration now says Xiaodong Li can stay: After winning a court case grating them to power to deport persecution victim Xiaodong Li back to Communist China (second and sixth item), the U.S. Board of Immigration reversed itself and has decided he can stay (World Net Daily).

More on Communist China and the United States: Irwin M. Stelzer, Weekly Standard, examines Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s attempt to ward off a currency-corrective tariff on Communist imports.

Cadres persecuting Falun Gong will be sued: The Falun Dafa Association warned cadres “who are taking part in the persecution of Falun Gong that they will be sued should they travel outside China” (Epoch Times). Among those who have already been sued are Commerce Minister Bo Xilai (third item) and Jiang Zemin (third item).

Arms embargo opponent out in Germany: Gerhardt Schroeder, a leading opponent of the European Union’s arms ban against Communist China, will be replaced by Angela Merkel as Chancellor. Her view on the ban is not known (UPI via Washington Times).

On “Double Ten”: October 1st is not “National Day” to non-Communist Chinese. That honor is reserved for October 10 (a.k.a. “Double Ten”) as Georgia Heyward, Epoch Times, explains. Meanwhile, the Epoch Times reprints yours truly’s comments on 10/1.

More Commentary on Communist China: Penn Professor Arthur Waldron’s Washington Post piece appears at first glance to be yet another weak “engagement” piece. In fact, it’s a quite insightful column that deserves being read. Meanwhile, Edward Lanfranco, UPI (via Washington Times) examines the latest Communist Central Committee meeting, and finds it wanting.

On to the colony of northern Korea . . .

Stalinist counterfeit plot included Irish politician: A Stalinist plot to “make high-quality counterfeit $100 bills” (Bill Gertz, Washington Times) and flood the U.S. with them has led to the arrest of the head of the Irish Workers Party, a party in the Republic of Ireland linked to the Irish Republican Army. One Free Korea weighs in.

More from One Free Korea: The Friendly Blog echoes this quarter’s call for liberation, rips the Stalinists’ latest anniversary celebration, and bitterly notes dovish South Korea’s reaction to a possible UN condemnation of the Stalinists’ abuses.