Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SHANGHAI368
2009-08-20 08:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Shanghai
Cable title:  

ZHEJIANG ACTIVISTS ON POLITICAL ANNIVERSARIES, SOCIAL

Tags:  PGOV PHUM SOCI CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3025
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 2166
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0624
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2332
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0527
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 2157
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 1961
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0738
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0102
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0054
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 8880
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SHANGHAI 000368 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL O'SULLIVAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/20/2034
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI CH
SUBJECT: ZHEJIANG ACTIVISTS ON POLITICAL ANNIVERSARIES, SOCIAL
INSTABILITY, AND "CLASS WARFARE"

REF: A. (A) SHANGHAI 253

B. (B) BEIJING 1734

C. (C) 08 SHANGHAI 523

D. (D) 08 SHANGHAI 522

E. (E) SHANGHAI 250

CLASSIFIED BY: BEATRICE CAMP, CONSUL GENERAL, U.S. CONSULATE
SHANGHAI, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



Summary

-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SHANGHAI 000368

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL O'SULLIVAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/20/2034
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI CH
SUBJECT: ZHEJIANG ACTIVISTS ON POLITICAL ANNIVERSARIES, SOCIAL
INSTABILITY, AND "CLASS WARFARE"

REF: A. (A) SHANGHAI 253

B. (B) BEIJING 1734

C. (C) 08 SHANGHAI 523

D. (D) 08 SHANGHAI 522

E. (E) SHANGHAI 250

CLASSIFIED BY: BEATRICE CAMP, CONSUL GENERAL, U.S. CONSULATE
SHANGHAI, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



Summary

--------------


1. (C) Human rights activists in Zhejiang Province told PolOff
they currently enjoy relative freedom of movement following
restrictions during the June 4 period, but they predict much
tighter controls in the run-up to the 60th anniversary of the
PRC in October. The activists remain concerned about social
instability. They point to netizens' angst over recent
incidents of "class warfare" in the provincial capital of
Hangzhou as evidence of discontent. End Summary.

Restrictions Relaxed...For Now

--------------


2. (C) Two prominent human rights activists in Zhejiang Province
told PolOff they currently enjoy relative freedom of movement in
contrast to restrictions during the June 4 period. During an
August 12 meeting in Zhejiang provincial capital Hangzhou, Wen
Kejian, a freelance writer and Charter 08 signatory, said he has
encountered few difficulties with police in July and August.
The relatively open atmosphere, Wen said, sharply contrasts with
the June 4 period when he and several other activists were
placed under house arrest by security forces (Ref A). In a year
of sensitive political anniversaries, the 20th anniversary of
the Tiananmen Square massacre in June was up to now the most
restricted time for activists, Wen observed.


3. (C) Wenzhou-based activist Yin Weihong supported Wen's
assessment. During a meeting in Shanghai in late July, Yin said
he met with China Democracy Party (CDP) activists Zhu Yufu, Zhu
Zhenming, Shan Chenfeng, and Wang Donghai in Hangzhou on July

21. According to Yin, the CDP activists were "optimistic"
because while their political activities remain curtailed, they
also reported enjoying greater freedom of movement. (Note: Zhu
Yufu was among those placed under house arrest in Hangzhou in
June. Ref A.)

Looking Ahead to October 1

--------------


4. (C) Zhejiang activists, however, predict September and
October will be tightly controlled in the run-up to the 60th
anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of
China (PRC). Yin Weihong said controls in Zhejiang will not be
as strict as in Beijing, but the situation would be tough for
activists. Wen Kejian expects an "October 1 crackdown" will
begin in early September. Police again will restrict the
movement of activists and detain some activist leaders during
the 60th anniversary period, Wen predicted.


5. (C) Chinese authorities implemented tighter internet controls
in recent months, including blocking Facebook and Twitter, the
activists observed. Internet controls, including blocking
emails, have frustrated attempts to "spread the word" about
human rights-related news, said Yin Weihong. He lamented, for
example, that few people in China are aware dissident writer and
Charter 08 signer Liu Xiaobo was formally charged with inciting
subversion in late June after six months in detention (Ref B).
(Note: Liu was one of the leaders of Charter 08, a manifesto
calling for sweeping political reforms in China signed by more
than 300 leading intellectuals and activists and posted on the
internet last December.)

Charter 08: Where Are They Now?

SHANGHAI 00000368 002 OF 003



--------------


6. (C) Wen Kejian, one of Zhejiang's leaders of the Charter 08
movement (Ref C),said activists are watching the Liu Xiaobo
situation closely. Wen said Charter 08 "still has momentum,"
but he acknowledged the movement can do little until Liu
Xiaobo's fate is known. Zhejiang Charter 08 signatories have
faced difficulties because of their participation, Wen said.
For example, Zhejiang University authorities allegedly refused
sociology professor Feng Gang's otherwise qualified application
for a position as dean because of Feng's involvement in Charter

08.

Social Stability Remains Top Concern

--------------


7. (C) Even as East China's economy slowly recovers from a
global drop in demand for the region's exports -- which led to
lower growth rates during the first half of the year -- the
Zhejiang activists said they remain concerned about social
instability (Ref D). Many of Zhejiang's small- and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) have closed, Wen said, leaving many migrant
workers unemployed. According to Wen, Zhejiang is "exporting
its social stability problem" to central and western China by
requiring migrants without jobs to leave. (Note: Septel to
follow on the province's new residency policy.)


8. (C) There were no reports of instability in Zhejiang related
to July disturbances in western China's Xinjiang Autonomous
Region, Wen stated. He highlighted, however, the ongoing
national concerns of social instability by referring to remarks
emphasizing "safeguarding stability" by State Councilor Dai
Bingguo during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in
late July. Wen claimed social instability concerns in Zhejiang
are particularly acute, stating, "farmers, workers are all
angry...there is a lot of pent up tension."

"People Are Angry"

--------------


9. (C) On August 13, three local Hangzhou residents, who
described themselves as netizens born after Deng Xiaoping came
to power, said several recent accidents in the city have sparked
discussions in the blogosphere and raised concerns of "class
warfare." The men were particularly angry about a reckless
driving accident resulting in the death of a pedestrian on May 7
(Ref E),a brawl between security guards and college students at
a local club on June 20, and a fatal drunken driving accident on
August 5. In both car accidents, drivers of luxury automobiles
traveling at fast speeds struck and killed young pedestrians (a
25-year-old died on May 7 and a 17-year-old on August 5). The
men believed both incidents were the result of "wealthy citizens
behaving ignorantly and believing they were above the law."
According to one netizen, "I don't care how much money you have,
you still need to obey the laws."


10. (C) On June 20, security guards at Club 88 in Hangzhou
severely beat two students who were "giving the guards a hard
time." Rumors immediately circulated on the internet that the
students had been killed. The students are alive but remain in
critical condition, the men said. The local government closed
the nightclub, but the incident served as another example of
"class warfare" in Hangzhou between the poor (security guards)
and the rich (university students),the netizens added.

Comment

--------------


11. (C) Hangzhou is the capital of one of China's wealthiest
provinces where rich residents (investors, businessmen,
students) live side-by-side with migrant workers who are
employed at factories and in hotels and restaurants. Despite
the activists' concerns, there does not appear to be a near-term
threat of large-scale social instability as a result of
reactions to the rich-poor gap in Zhejiang. At issue in the

SHANGHAI 00000368 003 OF 003


province, and in the East China region, is whether the economy
will recover sufficiently to meet residents' expectations and to
discourage acts of social unrest.
CAMP