Obama China trip: human rights activists face detention, warnings

Jarrod Rudd
November 13, 2009
4:31 pm

This article is about how activists have to be kept under house arrest while visitors come to the country. For example, Obama is visiting China and the activists that aren’t in jail have to be under house arrest. This is so they don’t cause any trouble. One of the interviews from Li Hai states that they are being deprived from their freedom. They take this to another level because they place policemen in front of the doors of activists to keep them in doors. Eventually, they replaced the policeman with a camera. He claims that as Obama’s visit gets closer the policeman will be back. This article also talks about the relationship between the US and the Chinese activists. Apparently they care about our voice and want to listen to what we have to say. They want Obama to solve their human rights issues and listen to what they have to say also. The Chinese government believes that Obama won’t raise human rights.

I think this is interesting because I had no idea about the human rights issues in China. I had no idea that they would care about what we had to say. If they do care so much, I think we should listen to them. Like the article said, maybe Obama should have a serious conversation with the Chinese government about these issues they are having. It seems to be over the top that they have to have a policeman outside the door of activists because they want to keep the problems from happening. On the other hand, it is better to be safe than sorry. I would rather know that Obama will be safe when he visits because the human activists are under house arrest than knowing that someone could cause problems with a protest. It seems fair that the policeman is there because I don’t think the government would put them there if the activist didn’t need it. If the person had not caused problems then it would be fine.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1113/p06s12-woap.html