The Olympics Masked China’s Disdain for Human Rights

The Beijing Olympics will be remembered for the stellar performances of Olympic athletes, from Michael Phelps to Usain Bolt. It will also be memorialized for its top-flight athletic facilities and venues. What may not be remembered, however, is the Chinese government’s disdain for basic human rights. While there was wall to wall coverage of the games, there was only a small fraction of that coverage reserved for discussion of the Chinese government's policies. Particularly noteworthy, China's "re-education" program has barely registered in recent news.

The Chinese government is currently detaining upwards of 290,000 people in centers to “re-educate” them for a period ranging anywhere from one to three years, if not longer. These detainees are mostly political and religious dissenters, though some are petty criminals. In “re-education” centers, the incarcerated are forced to labor and confess to the charges levied against them. Punishment is provided without trial and there is no appeals process.

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Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Editor of The Alternative Press Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com