News of the Day (March 16)

From the China Freedom Blog Alliance: The Korea Liberator marks the opening of Yoduk Story (see also second item). There's plenty more on the Communists' Korean colony. Open Doors listed the 50 worst persecutors of Christians, and Stalinist North Korea topped the list (World Net Daily). South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok explicitly called for American troops to remain after a future Korean unification - one can only imagine how the Communists will react to that (United Press International via Washington Times). Finally, Shin Joo Hyun (Daily NK) rips a Belgian Communist Party for actively opposing efforts in favor of human rights in SNK.

Sujiatun organ harvesting camp investigated; Canadians express outrage: The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong has begun a probe of the Sujiatun death camp (lead and third item). What they have found so far confirms the camp's existence and operation. Doctors at nearby organ recipient hospitals have described the camp thusly: "that place is like hell" (Epoch Times). The transcript of the report (so far) can be found at Clearwisdom. The prisoner organ harvesting continues to be a brisk and profitable business for the Communists (Epoch Times, Clearwisdom via Epoch Times). A protest against Sujiatun was held in Ottawa; among those in attendace was the China Supoort Network's Canada Director, Brian McAdam (Prime Time Crime).

Triads now part of the Communist Party: In any other week, this would be the lead story. The South China Morning Post has found that triad gangs (the Chinese version of the Mafia) "have begun infiltrating Communist Party and government departments, notably the police force" (Howard W. French). One of the favorite methods is buying one's way into a political office.

Wen Jiabao steals George Bernard Shaw quote on liberty: In reaction to international outrage over Communist China's internet crackdown, Communist Premier Wen Jiabao had the audacity to steal a quote from George Bernard Shaw: "Liberty means responsibility. (That's why most men dread it)" (South China Morning Post via Asia Media). Wen had plenty of other things to say, as noted by UPI Editor Martin Walker (via Washington Times).

Luo Changfu release; Li Jianping still in jail: Boxun writer Luo Changfu was released from prison (his term ran out), but fellow cyberdissident Li Jianping (fourth item) was not so lucky. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Li's arrest (Boxun).

Gao Zhisheng speaks again: The human rights attorney (sixth, tenth, fifth, lead, third, last, twelfth, eighth, third, second, third, eighth, eleventh, eighth, fourth, fourth, last, fourth, fifth, twelfth, fifth, second, lead, next to last, seventh, last, next to last, lead, second, last, sixth, tenth, eighth, second, eighth, ninth, and lead items) gave the latest report on the Communist police surrounding him.

Hu Jintao: back to the future? Hannah Beech (Time Asia) has a rather thoughtful look at Hu Jintao's efforts at "turning back the clock to 1950" in party rhetoric. Beech's conclusion: Hu is fine with the economic development of recent years, but when it comes to politics, he considers the Mao era the good ol' days.

Communists announce action against corrupt academics: The Communist regime announced plans to "issue a blacklist of dishonest academics to stem the tide of false research results and plagiarism among academics and scientists" (UPI via Washington Times).

Communist China claims higher industrial output: Communist China is claiming that "industrial output rose 16.2 percent year on year in January and February due to brisk investment, booming exports and growing consumer spending" (UPI via Washington Times). How much of that growth came from wasteful building of factories that produce nothing of value while allowing cadres to pocket developmental loan money (twenty-ninth, thirtieth, last, and seventh items) was, for obvious reasons, not revealed.

Communist China won't take back escapees: The United States is expressing frustration at Communist China's unwillingness to accept nearly 40,000 emigrants who the U.S. has refused to allow to stay (BBC). Now, this quarter loathes to tell Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff how to do his job, and Parapundit founder Randall Parker (Member since 2003) takes a different view, but why are we trying to send any escapees back to a Communist dictatorhsip?

Tibetan nun out of prison, in United States: Phuntsog Nyidron a Tibetan nun who spent over a decede in a Communist prison (seventh item) "was allowed to leave China and flew to the United States" (Washington Post, third item).

The situation on Taiwan: The Jamestown Foundation's China Brief has two pieces on Communist China's aggressive actions against the island democracy - the first on Zhongnanhai's attempts to isolate Taiwan's elected President, and the second on the ever-increasing Communist military threat to Taiwan. Meanwhile, Alastair Gordon, of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, calls for the Great White North to stand by the island democracy.

Nigerian authorities catch Communists flouting textile import ban: In an attempt to deal with the flood of Communist textile imports when worldwide rstrictions on the textile trade were dropped (see also fifth, fourth, second, fifth, third, second, and eleventh items), Nigerian authorities banned all textile imports. Nigeria has now discovered a smuggling ring designed to bring in Communist Chinese textiles in violation of the law (Daily Independent, Nigeria).

Cadre visits Nepal: Tang Jiaxuan, "the highest ranking foreign official to visit Nepal after the king seized direct power last February" (BBC) has begun a three-day visit there. Communist China has been the best friend of Nepalese King Gyanendra, who dismissed the elected Parliament in February of 2005 and has been absolute ruler ever since (fourth item).

Speaking of Communist China making the world safe for dictators, we have two pieces examining that policy in different parts of the world. Vivienne Walt (Fortune) examines Africa (hat tip Daniel McKivergan, Worldwide Standard), while Stanford University’s William Ratliff looks at Venezuela (China Brief).

More on Communist China, the U.S., and the rest of the world: Patrick Goodenough (Cybercast News) is back on firm ground with this analysis of shared concern for the Communist rise in Japan and Washington, and the far more troubling reaction of Australia (lead, last and tenth items).