Human Rights Watch
October 19, 2014
Release Peaceful Critics, Withdraw Decisions on Hong Kong, Abolish Arbitrary Detention. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should make its upcoming Plenum meeting meaningful by taking steps to address human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said in a letter today to CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping. The Plenum, which is to focus on the “rule of law,” will be held in Beijing on October 20-23, 2014.
“Under Xi’s leadership, critical legal reforms have stalled, and the state violates or fails to protect people’s basic legal rights every day,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “Gaining any credibility on this subject inside and outside China requires dramatic steps.”
The letter urges Xi and the CCP to take three steps: releasing all those detained for peacefully expressing their views, withdrawing legally dubious decisions regarding Hong Kong, and committing to abolishing all forms of arbitrary detention.
