China Detains a Human Rights Advocate

The Chinese police have (1) ___________ a leading human rights advocate who represented farmers in lawsuits against the government, expanding a crackdown on writers, intellectuals, lawyers and journalists who challenge the Communist Party authorities. The advocate, Li Boguang, was detained by the police while visiting Fujian Province last Tuesday, his family said. The reasons for his detention are unclear. Mr. Li, a 37-year-old lawyer and writer, has helped peasants in many parts of China (2) __________ constitutional rights to oust corrupt officials. He has also represented farmers seeking more compensation for confiscated farmland.

In September, the police arrested Zhao Yan, a journalist and researcher in The New York Times's bureau in Beijing who had in the past worked with Mr. Li to help farmers voice their (3) ___________. Mr. Zhao was charged with leaking state secrets abroad. It is unclear whether Mr. Li's detention has any connection to Mr. Zhao's arrest. But Mr. Li had expressed concern in recent weeks that the police might be undertaking a broad campaign to harass or imprison rights advocates suspected of contributing to a surge in rural (4) ____________.

In an article he posted on a Chinese Web site in October, Mr. Li said the police had ordered farmers in Fujian and other areas to report on his whereabouts. Mr. Li said the police had made it clear that he would be arrested if he continued to provide legal advice to protesters. The (5) __________ comes a few days after the Beijing police briefly detained two leading writers and a political theorist who are members of a Chinese chapter of PEN, the international writers group. Computers and other materials were confiscated from their homes, the three men said.

In November, Shi Tao, a poet and journalist based in Hunan Province, was (6) __________ of leaking state secrets and arrested. The authorities also recently detained Huang Jingao, the Communist Party chief of Lianjiang County in Fujian Province, two Hong Kong newspapers reported. Mr. Huang became a national sensation in August when he wrote a letter to the online edition of People's Daily contending that local officials had thwarted his campaign against corruption in the area. Mr. Huang said he had received so many death threats that he was forced to wear a (7) ____________ vest.

While the various cases do not appear to be directly connected, some political analysts say they may represent an effort by President Hu Jintao to (8) ___________ discipline inside and outside the Communist Party as he solidifies his authority.

Ex. 10. Work in pairs or in small groups. Discuss the following issues:

1. The UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

2. The functions of the UN Commission on Human Rights and the High Commisssioner for Human Rights.

3. Four basic characteristics of human rights.

4. Basic civil and political rights.

Unit 8. Diplomacy

Key vocabulary

Give equivalents in your mothertongue to the following English words and phrases:

To accept full sovereignty

ambassador at large

to avert a diplomatic crisis

to call in an envoy

the chief of mission

to circulate a letter

to commemorate the victims

to denounce

to express deep dissatisfaction and determined opposition

to face possible war

to foreshadow in public

to grant smb a visa

to lift the arms embargo on

meddling in internal affairs

to negotiate a settlement on sb's terms

to offer reassurances to

ousting of the government

to release a statement

to seek asylum

to sour the relationship

to sow discord between

stalled talks

the state of emergency

to supplant one's influence

to tell a news conference

Ex. 1. Speak on the following:

1. Independent sovereign states: the main actors in the international system.

2. The best methods of maintaining order: balance of power, diplomacy, and the formation of alliances.

3. The role of international institutions in the world.

Ex. 2. Before reading the nespaper article below discuss in pairs what you think it