Premier Wen Jiabao Criticizes Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu for His Handling of Rights Defender Arrests, Calling Complicating an Already Busy Time

By chinafreepress.org (translation)
Aug 28, 2009 – 8:19:45 AM

Premier Wen Jiabao Criticizes Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu for His Handling of Rights Defender Arrests, Calling Complicating an Already Busy Time

Boxun on July 8 reported the detention of renowned rights defense activists Xu Zhiyong, Zhuang Lu and Uighur economist-activist Ilham Tohti. According to reliable sources, on July 28 Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu personally approved the formal arrest of Xu Zhiyong and the others. It was only afterward that the charge of “evading taxes” was affixed to the case, this is the custom of the Chinese police, first detain a targeted dissident, then decide on a charge to frame them with.

Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday August 20 was briefed by State Council Acting Vice Chairman You Quan on the cases of Xu, Zhuang and Ilham. Wen was highly displeased and ordered that the police immediately release these prisoners, and for the Public Security Ministry to not stir up further trouble like this during this sensitive several month period.

At first Minister Meng resisted releasing them, so Wen had to go through his fellow Politburo Standing Committee member and former Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang to ensure their release. Wen is very displeased with Meng’s work performance, there has been a long string of large-scale public unrest incidents that have taken place on his watch.

Full Chinese report: http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2009/08/200908280049.shtml