Despite Olympic Show, China is Still China

The 2008 Olympic Games have been a grand opportunity for China and the Chinese government to show off to the world the splendor of their country. And the Chinese have managed to put on a dazzling show. The Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics was an incredible show of lights and choreography that had never been done before. But no one ever questioned the might and ability of the Chinese government. The biggest criticism of China is that it is a communist government that tramples over the rights of any citizen who dissents against the government, and despite the beauty and spectacle of the Olympics, that is still very much a part of China.

The New York Times reported today that two Chinese women, aged 77 and 79, would be sent to "re-education centers" to perform labor for seeking a permit to protest during the Olympics. The two women were protesting because they felt that they were given unfair compensation from the government to vacate their homes. The Chinese government removed these women from their homes in order to demolish the area for a redevelopment project. As compensation, the two women were given rundown apartments on the outskirts of the city.

The Chinese have designated three "protest zones" around the city Beijing, but so far, there have been no protests because all 77 applications to protest during the Olympics have been denied by the Chinese government. Many of the people who applied to protest have been taken into custody by the Chinese government and have not been heard from since.

This plan has been a success for the Chinese government. The Olympics have run smoothly without any dissent from those inside their country, giving the impression that all of China's citizens are happy to be part of the People's Republic. But from a human right's perspective, it is a disaster. It has just given the authoritarian Chinese government another opportunity to round up those who want to make their voice heard and take that right away from them.

So while China dazzles the world with an impressive Olympic display. It is important to remember that there is more to China than what is being shown on televisions screens around the world. Behind the fireworks and lights, there lies an authoritarian communist government denying its citizens basic human rights.