China Labour Action Express No. 31 (2003-07-11)

In this Issue:



1. Editor's Note

2. Liaoyang – Portrait of a Movement

3. Article 23 – Updates and Press Releases

4. News Review

5. Next Issue: Health and Safety in China



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Editor's Note



In March 2002, over 50,000 workers in Liaoyang began marching in protest at
official corruption, missing and unpaid wages and falling benefits. Nines months
later, two of the worker’s representatives were tried on charges of “subversion”.
Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang, sentenced to seven and four years respectively
have become symbols – both of government repression and the almost total denial
of the rights of freedom of association and expression in China and as symbols
of the growing workers struggles in China. The protests and the campaigns by
the Liaoyang workers to free Yao and Xiao and to bring gain redress for their
grievances still continue.



In this special issue, we chart the events in Liaoyang from 1008 until the rejection
of their appeals in June 2003. Portrait of a Movement contains an analysis of
event, a chronology, the court verdict, some personal insights into Yao Fuxin
and Xiao Yunliang as well as various interviews with local officials and workers.



Although their struggle is an historic one, it is still ongoing and needs your
support. China Labour Bulletin and LabourStart have teamed up to launch a global
signature campaign for their release. Please take the time to sign your
name here.



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Liaoyang : Portrait of a Movement



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Contents Page



Article:
China's Workers stand Up: The Liaoyang Protest Movement of 2002-03, and the
Arrest, Trial and Sentencing of the "Liaoyang Two"

Open Letter: To the Leadership by Liaoyang workers

Personal Viewpoint: The long and winding road: Two families destroyed

Personal profiles: Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang

Selected Interviews: Workers, officials and the families in Liaoyang

Chronology:1998 to 2003

Extracts: 330th Report of the Committee on Freedom of Association, ILO

Criminal Verdict: Intermediate People’s Court of Liaoyang Municipality, Liaoyang Province




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Article 23

After many months
of campaigning by China Labour Bulletin and many other groups in Hong Kong and
around the world, the Hong Kong SAR Government finally announced that it would
postpone the second and final reading of their proposed national security legislation
on Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law. The decision came after some 500,000
people marched against Article 23 Legislation on 1 July, the anniversary of
the 1997 resumption of Chinese sovereignty over Hong Kong.

China Labour Bulletin
welcomes the decision not to press ahead with the second reading of the proposed
legislation on Article 23. Hong Kong people remain rightly concerned at the
use and abuse of similar legislation in China where thousands of people are
imprisoned on grounds of subversion and state secrets. Labour activists – including
Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang - are labeled “subversives” and are detained simply
for attempting to exercise their right to freedom of expression and association.

According to Article
68 of the Hong Kong Basic law, the ultimate aim for Hong Kong is the election
of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage. We now ask that the government
moves ahead with the necessary steps to create universal suffrage and then only
then move ahead with Article 23 legislation. Any move to introduce the proposed
legislation without a popularly elected government will only reinforce the chasm
between the government and the people.

9 July: Press Release on the postponement

9 July: Collection of materials on Article 23 Legislation

10 July: Update on events





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News Review



Highlights