On the matter of Olympics, zones and protest permits. Says Alex:
My point is that it's all oddly familiar. For a start, they have been placed under an "order" which restricts their movements, subjects them to the scrutiny of a neighbourhood committee, and isn't subject to a court hearing or to an appellant jurisdiction of any kind. Why not? Because, of course, it's not actually punishment. Only breaking; the order would be a crime, and would result in your being sent to a labour camp.Yes; they've reinvented the ASBO.
Nah, always had them: administrative detention and its associated punishment of reform through labour were always a feature of the PRC’s power system, part of an architecture that also included ID cards, residence permits, neighbourhood committees, etc. What we’re seeing over time is the gradual liberalization of this system along the lines that Chinese liberalization has taken in recent years: ie, from actively controlling everyone to restricting your efforts to those who bring themselves to your attention. Momentum in this direction increased after the case of Sun Zhigang, a graphic designer beaten to death in a police station in Guangdong back in 2003 for the crime of failing to carry an identity card.
So you have a fearsome oppressive tool diluting to ASBO level, and us coming the other way, both being recognisible as they sees the other approaching along the road. Incidentally, it was the Chinese who originally invented free speech/protest zones back in 96, at that global’ women’s jamboree thing. And applying for permission to hold a demo isn’t an Olympic innovation in China. It’s also standard operating procedure. You can apply to hold a demonstration anytime. You may even get permission. It depends if you want the cops to know about you.
It’s important to avoid the ZaNu Labour mouth breathing stuff here. Britain isn’t becoming totalitarian. Both systems are groping towards a general authoritarian model, somewhere in the approximate vicinity of Singapore.
anyway, I wonder what exciting, harmonious and constructive security initiatives we'll be seeing in 2012?
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