U.S. envoy blames China for 'backsliding' on rights

CALGARY HERALD

A U.S. envoy accused China of "serious backsliding" on human rights Thursday following talks on the issue that were held as Beijing carries out a severe crackdown on critics.

Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner also indicated China rebuffed U.S. appeals to soften the crackdown and resolve the cases of prominent artist Ai Weiwei and other detained activists and dissidents.

"In recent weeks, we have seen a serious backsliding on human rights and the discussion of these negative trends dominated the human rights dialogue over the past few days," Posner said.

"The most senior officials of the United States are deeply concerned about the deterioration of human rights in China," he added.

Posner, whose brief includes human rights, led the U.S. delegation to the two-day U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue, a recurring discussion held this time in Beijing. The U.S.

State Department had made clear beforehand that it would zero in on China's clampdown and a "negative trend of forced disappearances, extralegal detentions, and arrests and convictions".

Chinese authorities have launched their toughest campaign against government critics in years after anonymous online appeals emerged in February calling for weekly protests to emulate those that have rocked the Arab world.


(2011-4-29/CalgaryHerald)