Humiliated women demand apology
Source: Xinhua |
November 10, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO women in northwest China's Shaanxi Province are demanding an apology from the local government after being publicly humiliated before a crowd of 10,000, as "punishment" for lodging complaints with authorities in Beijing.
"I hope they will restore my reputation or I'll lodge another complaint to higher authorities," said Qiao Zhuanli, one of the women.
Qiao, 47, lodged a complaint to the Supreme People's Court in Beijing in March, saying the local court in her home county of Fuping in Weinan City made an unfair ruling against her in a lawsuit concerning a financial dispute.
Duan Dingmei, a 42-year-old woman also from Fuping, was in Beijing too, lodging a complaint of improper land seizure by village officials.
The women were escorted back to Weinan City by police after they submitted documents on March 4 and the next day faced public "prosecution" at a square in the county seat.
"They said we had made petitions in an illegal manner and disrupted social order," said Qiao.
She said they were treated like criminals. "Our arms were seized tightly by policemen on both sides, we were forced to face an audience of up to 10,000, and then a public security officer stated our 'offences.'"
Afterwards, Duan was released with a warning while Qiao was detained for 10 days.
Their ordeal was widely covered by local media. On the official website of the Fuping County court, however, the two women's humiliation was referred to as an effective way to "penalize illegal petitioners and publicize policies, laws and regulations regarding how individuals should voice their complaints properly.
"Such public prosecution sessions ... will be held from time to time," it said.
Though Chinese civilians are free to make petitions, local government officials often hold them back, fearing the complaints could make them look incompetent.
Zhou Ze, a lawyer in Beijing, said the local government had violated the women's rights. "They can sue for rights infringement," he said.
Qiao said she just hoped the government would make an open apology. "They should hold another meeting, attended by thousands and broadcast on TV, too."
"I hope they will restore my reputation or I'll lodge another complaint to higher authorities," said Qiao Zhuanli, one of the women.
Qiao, 47, lodged a complaint to the Supreme People's Court in Beijing in March, saying the local court in her home county of Fuping in Weinan City made an unfair ruling against her in a lawsuit concerning a financial dispute.
Duan Dingmei, a 42-year-old woman also from Fuping, was in Beijing too, lodging a complaint of improper land seizure by village officials.
The women were escorted back to Weinan City by police after they submitted documents on March 4 and the next day faced public "prosecution" at a square in the county seat.
"They said we had made petitions in an illegal manner and disrupted social order," said Qiao.
She said they were treated like criminals. "Our arms were seized tightly by policemen on both sides, we were forced to face an audience of up to 10,000, and then a public security officer stated our 'offences.'"
Afterwards, Duan was released with a warning while Qiao was detained for 10 days.
Their ordeal was widely covered by local media. On the official website of the Fuping County court, however, the two women's humiliation was referred to as an effective way to "penalize illegal petitioners and publicize policies, laws and regulations regarding how individuals should voice their complaints properly.
"Such public prosecution sessions ... will be held from time to time," it said.
Though Chinese civilians are free to make petitions, local government officials often hold them back, fearing the complaints could make them look incompetent.
Zhou Ze, a lawyer in Beijing, said the local government had violated the women's rights. "They can sue for rights infringement," he said.
Qiao said she just hoped the government would make an open apology. "They should hold another meeting, attended by thousands and broadcast on TV, too."
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