【新唐人2014年01月27日訊】美國人權組織「自由之家」發佈《2013年度世界自由度調查》，結果顯示，中國如同往年一樣，再次與越南、柬埔寨、朝鮮等國一同被評為「不自由」國家。報告特別指出，去年中國加緊壓制異議人士，自由度不進反退，因此成為亞洲表現最差的國家之一。
據「英國廣播公司《BBC》」報導，1月23號，總部設在華盛頓的美國獨立調查機構「自由之家」，公布了2013年全球各國「政治權利」和「公民自由狀況」的評比調查結果。結果顯示，中亞和中東地區加緊壓制民主，導致2013年全球自由指數連續第8年下降。
這是《自由之家》第41期世界自由年度報告。是按照滿分1分，最差7分的標準進行評估。中國在「政治權利」一項得分為最低分7分，「公民自由」一項的評分為6，整體自由程度為6.5，與越南、寮國、柬埔寨、緬甸和朝鮮一同被評為「不自由國家」。菲律賓、泰國和馬來西亞則評為「部分自由國家」。而台灣、南韓、日本、印尼和澳洲都被列為「自由國家」。
原美國哥倫比亞大學人權研究所訪問學者古川：「這個『政治自由』當然肯定是最低的，因為柬埔寨它們國會還有選舉，像中國的話，中國的全國人大就不是選舉，它就是一個任命的。而且它的公民權利，這方面更不用說了，就連它在《憲法》上規定的公民權利，它都不去落實，集會自由啊、言論自由啊，這些都得不到保護。政治權利和公民自由方面都是倒退的。」
據《美國之音》報導，「自由之家」的報告特別指出，2013年，亞太地區的中國，加緊壓制異議人士，自由度不進反退。報告批評了中共當局口頭高喊「反腐敗」、和「健全法制」，實際卻進行打擊「新公民運動」，還推出了惡法，擴大網絡言論定罪範圍。
北京社會活動家胡佳：「我覺得新公民運動的群體，其實就是一個代表公民走上街頭，表達訴求，以及公民明確的提出最至關重要的反腐方面的，合理、合法的一個公民行動。現在當局對他們的打壓，是共產黨的一種報復，是它在濫用法律，其實某種程度上就是在強姦法律，毫無公正可言。反腐敗的起點就是財產公示嘛，這麼簡單的事情，它們居然一直都做不到。」
報告還說，原本被看作是「積極的改革」也被證明是換湯不換藥。例如中國當局雖然取消了臭名昭著勞改制度，可是，卻對維權、反腐、上訪和宗教活動人士，增加了刑事罪名和刑期，或者進行非法拘禁。另外，雖然當局宣佈允許部分家庭生第二胎，可是侵犯人權的計生法規和強制墮胎絕育的做法仍然存在。
古川：「實際上嚴格說來，中共是不可能有改革的，因為它改革意味著要把自己的權力交出去，它肯定是不願意的。中共這樣的政權就希望一直維持它的權利。它那些（改革）當然是壓力下，所謂表面上的一種改變。」
原美國「哥倫比亞大學」人權研究所訪問學者古川還指出，中共當局出臺所謂「雙獨家庭生二胎」政策，也是因為原本的「一胎化政策」導致了中國老齡化危機。而中共利益集團很大一部分，是通過掠奪廉價勞動力，來維持目前的經濟增長，如果青壯年人口持續減少，大量血汗工廠將難以維繫。
此外，「自由之家」報告還認為，中國也出現「可喜的亮點」，那就是，越來越多的公民和異議人士開始維護自身權益，向司法制度發出挑戰，並取得了一定點勝利，促使少數被拘留的無辜人士重獲自由。但維權人士指出，這只能說明中共當局對人權的打壓在不斷升級，所以才會逼迫更多的民眾站出來反抗。
採訪編輯/張天宇 後製/王明宇
China Again Categorized As A “NOT FREE” Country
Recently, the U.S.-based human rights organization “Free House” published its report “2013 Freedom in the World”. The investigation results show that along with Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma and North Korea, China has been categorized as a “Not Free” country. The report stated that China became increasingly intolerant of dissent in 2013. The status of freedom in China is not improving but worsening. China is one of the countries in Asia that has least freedom.
“Freedom House” is a U.S.-based non-governmental organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. It conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights. As reported by the BBC, “Free House” published its annual investigation report about the global condition of “political rights” and “civil liberties”. The report shows that Central Asia and Middle East countries continue to suppress democracy, which has caused the status of global freedom to decline for the eighth consecutive year in 2013.
Here are the findings of the 41st edition of Freedom in the World: Each country and territory is assigned two numerical ratings —from 1 to 7—for political rights and civil liberties. 1 represents the most free and 7 the least free. China received 7 for “political rights” and 6 for “civil liberties”, and its overall freedom status is 6.5. Along with Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma and North Korea, China has been categorized as a “Not Free” country. Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia have been categorized as “Partly Free” countries. While Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Australia have been categorized as “Free” countries.
Gu Chuan, former visiting Scholar of the University of Columbia, “‘political rights’ in China must rank the lowest. At least in Cambodia, people can vote for the Congress. However, in China, the national Congress representatives are not voted but nominated. As for ‘civil liberties’, ‘freedom of assembly’ and ‘freedom of speech’ that are listed in the Constitution: they still aren’t implemented. Both political rights and civil liberties keep retreating in China. ”
As reported by the BBC, the “Freedom House” report particularly pointed out that “China became increasingly intolerant of dissent in 2013.” “Despite official rhetoric about ‘fighting corruption’ and ‘improving the rule of law’, the authorities responded with campaigns to intensify ideological controls. New judicial guidelines expanded the criminalization of online speech, confessions and ‘self-criticisms’”
Hu Jia, social activist in Beijing, “I think the “’New Citizen Movement’ is just about a citizen walking the street and expressing his aims like “anti-corruption”. It’s a movement both reasonable and legal. Now the party has cracked down on them, which is an abuse of law. To a certain extent, the party is ‘raping’ the law and it cannot be justified at all. The first step to anti-corruption is to publicize officials’ properties. It’s such a simple thing but the party is just not able to do it. ”
The “Freedom House” report also says that “even potentially positive changes fell short” in China. “Although authorities began to close the country’s infamous ‘reeducation through labor’ camps, they increasingly turned to criminal charges with potentially longer sentences and various alternative forms of administrative or extralegal detention to punish human rights defenders, anti-corruption activists, petitioners, and religious believers. And despite announced reforms that will increase the number of two children families, the intrusive regulations and harsh practices used to enforce the country’s long-standing birth quotas remain in place.”
Gu Chuan: “Strictly speaking, there is no hope that the party would reform in any way. If it ever reforms, it would have to hand over its power. The party is absolutely not willing to do it. The party wishes to maintain its power forever. The so-called reform is nothing but some minor changes the party has made under pressure.”
Now the party allows parents who are both single children of their families to have a second kid. Gu Chuan pointed out that the party loosens the birth policy only to relieve the crisis of population aging in China caused by its “one-child policy”. The group interest in China is to maintain economic growth by exploiting the cheap labor force. If the population in China keeps aging, it’ll be hard for them to continue exploiting cheap labor.
In addition, the Freedom House report also stated that “a bright spot was the determination of high-profile dissidents as well as large numbers of ordinary citizens to assert their rights and challenge injustice in the face of heavy obstacles.” “Public protests, online campaigns, journalistic exposés, and activist networks scored several victories during the year, including the release of individuals from wrongful detention. ”However, human rights activists pointed out it only means that the party’s escalating crackdown has forced more people to stand up and fight.
Interview & Edit/Zhang Tianyu Post-Production/Wang Mingyu
