News of the Day (November 8)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: One Free Korea examines President Bush’s latest comments on Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il, and the political agenda of the South Korean Teachers' Union. In other news regarding the Communists’ would-be colony, Thailand’s government is investigating a Stalinist abduction of a Thai women from 1978 (BBC).

Gao Zhisheng comments on order to shut down: Attorney Gao Zhisheng, who bravely wrote and open letter to Hu Jintao calling for the end of the Falun Gong War, spoke to the Epoch Times about the Communist order shutting down his law practice (sixth, tenth, and fifth items). The move was made after Gao refused to "take back" the letter.

Chongqing activist secretly tried: Xu Wanping, a pro-democracy activist in Chongqing, was put on trial for "subversion of state power" (Epoch Times), one of the favorite Communist catchall charges for dissidents. The trial was held in secret, even Xu’s wife "was forced to stay outside the courtroom."

Communist China trying to bring Catholic Church under its thumb: Communist China has kidnapped two Catholic priests in Zhejiang Province because of their refusal to accept a cadre-appointed bishop (Epoch Times). Other priests are being forced to take Clergy Certificates form the "Patriotic" Catholic Church in order to avoid being raided. Roughly 10 million Catholics worship "underground" in fealty to the Vatican rather than the cadre-controlled "Catholic" Church.

Anti-Communist statements showing up on Communist currency: The reaction from the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party (5.4 million resignations as of this hour) is now so strong it is showing up on the Communists’ own currency (Epoch Times). Communists suspend markets in Beijing, plan "bird flu insurance": Communist China has now "suspended poultry and bird markets in Beijing as part of efforts to stop any spread of bird flu" (BBC), and are now examining "offering a life policy specifically for bird flu" (BBC). Meanwhile, there is still no admission of a mistake or a cover-up regarding He Yin.

Communists hid "red capitalist" party membership: Rong Yiren, the "red capitalist" who died last month (seventh item), had actually be a Communist Party member since 1985. His cadre status was "concealed for 20 years in order to create the appearance of widespread support for the Party" (Epoch Times) from outside it.

Woe Canada! Ontario Premier chokes on "engagement" Kool-aid: An embarrassed Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, insisted Communist China was "making strides toward democracy and freedom" (Globe and Mail, Cdn.), but then failed to find an example of such "strides" after being asked by reporters.

Jilin cadre sued by persecution victim in, ahem, Ontario: Meanwhile, a Superior Court in Ontario received a law suit filed by "a female Jilin native, now a Toronto resident" (Epoch Times) against Jilin Deputy Party Secretary Lin Yanzhi for "serious human rights abuses imposed by Lin in persecuting Falun Gong practitioners in China."

Hu Jintao visits London, and is met by protestors: Communist leader Hu Jintao began a whirlwind tour of Europe (BBC) in London today, and was greeted by "protesters against Chinese rule in Tibet who started chanting loudly and waving banners" (BBC). In fact, there were some anti-Communist protestors who beat him to the British capital (Epoch Times).

Communist China worried about India’s growing ties with United States: The Communist mouthpiece People’s Daily railed against the U.S.-India civilian nuclear power dea (thirteenth item), calling it a prelude to "a domino effect of nuclear proliferation" (Cybercast News). Many believe the Communists’ real concern is "India's strengthening ties with Washington." One sign of that was the demotion of former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh, who was bounced for his role in the Iraq Oil-for-food scandal and was no friend of the United States (Cybercast News).

Textile deal officially signed: The U.S.-Communist China textile deal, reported here yesterday (seventh item), became official today, albeit under terms that were slightly different (BBC). Communist China’s exports in textiles to the U.S. and elsewhere surged when global textile trade curbs ended last January (fifth, fourth, second, fifth, third, and second items), crowding out several developing nations in the process.

Enlighted Comment of the Day: Today's winner is Michael Scroccaro,Director of Sterling Communication, who eloquently presents the case for economically isolating Communist China (Epoch Times).

Other Commentary on Communist China: The China Support Network prints in full dissident Liu Xiaobo’s open letter to Yahoo Chairman Jerry Yang condemning the firm’s role in the arrest of Shi Tao (fourteenth, fifth, lead, third, eighth, seventh, third, fifth, and eighth items). Gary Feuerberg, Epoch Times, reports from the Heritage Foundation’s forum of press freedom in Communist China. Brian Marple, also in the Epoch Times, talks to Jung Chang, author of Mao: the Untold Story. Economist-turned-dissident He Qinglian details how Communist China's economy is fueled by debt, and will eventually drown in it (Epoch Times).