Labor's Love Lost

For weeks, China's leaders have told their people that, despite the SARS crisis, life should proceed almost as usual. To the chagrin of human rights watchers, a Liaoning provincial court is indeed conducting business as usual. On May 9, it convicted labor activists Yao Fuxin, 52, and Xiao Yunliang, 56, of "subverting the political power of the state." Yao received a seven-year jail term; Xiao, four years. Their one-day trial occurred five months ago, but the sentencing date was announced on May 6, preventing their Beijing-based lawyer, Mo Shaoping, from attending, as Liaoning is now quarantining visitors from the capital for...

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