Chinese freedom activists visit U.S. to learn about voting process

November 6, 2010

Chinese freedom activists visit U.S. to learn about voting process

Posted: Wednesday, November 3, 2010 9:00 pm | Updated: 10:39 pm, Wed Nov 3, 2010.

Kathleen Thurber
Midland Reporter-Telegram                

Leaning over a voting booth still set up at the Elections Office Wednesday, Chinese human rights lawyer Li Baiguang moved through a dated ballot and pressed enter as he cast a mock vote.

Behind him, Christian educator Ran Liang asked questions about the process as elections officials explained why they set up polling places and how ballots are counted electronically. The two Chinese men were in Texas as part of a trip orchestrated by Midland-based ChinaAid Association.

‘They can learn from the American experience so someday they can prepare a true Democratic system for a free China,” President of ChinaAid Bob Fu said.

However, as they stress the importance of freedom and democracy, they also know that such feats for China will require great work, Fu said.

Of the five people they invited to the U.S. this week, three were blocked from leaving the country. Two of those were stopped at the airport and sent home after being told their trip was a threat to national security, Fu said. The third person was never approved for a U.S. visa.

“This thing called democracy could pose a security threat to China,” Fu said, referring to the dictatorship that exists in China.

Li and Ran were permitted to travel and after arriving earlier in the week attended a theological seminar in Phoenix before coming to Texas. Tuesday, the men were in College Station learning about city government. During the evening they attended an election night party for Bill Flores, who ousted Congressman Chet Edwards after the Democrat had served 20 years in Congress. They’ve also met with Ken Starr, now president at Baylor University.

In Midland, Assistant Elections Administrator Terry Perry showed the visitors how paper mail-in ballots are tallied and how chips inside the electronic ballots are used to provide a final count of how citizens voted.

“It’s like a microwave oven, it’s a touch screen,” Perry said, demonstrating how one would vote.

Li said most of the citizens who live in rural China don’t know how to read and wondered if such a ballot could be utilized by illiterate individuals.

Perry said the voting system is set up so a person can use headphones to listen to instructions and that assistants also can take an oath not to influence voters and then help a person through the election process.

Even where Democracy exists in Asia, Li said that it’s rarely peaceful like it is in the U.S. as elected officials in places like Taiwan will get into physical fights while on the voting floor.

Since Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in early October, persecution of
Christians and those who work for human rights has been on the rise in China, Fu said. Dozens have been put under house arrest and others beaten and arrested for going out.

Even before that persecution was high. The Christian school Ran was a principal of was denied certification in June and hasn’t been permitted to re-open since, he said.

Still, Ran said persecution is not at the height it was during the Cultural Revolution when Christians were often murdered. Among the issues occurring now, Ran said the Christian faith is only expanding.

“It grows very fast,” he said, through a translator. In years past most Christians were in rural China but since 2000, the urbanization of China has led to a rise in religious activity in cities, Ran said.

Most individuals worship in house churches, or underground Christian communities, and simply move locations to avoid continually being shut down.

Li agreed Christianity is on the rise in China and said it’s because of God’s spirit within them that they’re able to continue their work while being targeted by the government.

“It’s because God is in me to do such work,” Li said, through a translator.

The government violates citizens’ rights on a daily basis through intimidation, Li said. But, he and Fu added, they’re hopeful.

“Even though now the Chinese people are oppressed, eventually we’re all optimistic the country will rise into modernization,” Fu said.

If the country doesn’t address its human rights issues, Fu said he believes it will be unable to sustain its growing economy under a dictatorship.

“Economic and political issues go hand in hand,” Fu said.

Following their trip to Midland, the men will travel to Washington along where they will meet with Justice Antonin Scalia and other officials.
——

Kathleen Thurber can be reached at [email protected].
Link: Chinese freedom activists visit U.S. to learn about voting process


China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chinaaid.org

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