December 23, 2024 08:00 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Cylinder blast at a temple in Karnataka's Hubbali injures nine people | Kuwait PM personally sees off Modi at airport as Indian premier concludes two-day trip | Three pro-Khalistani terrorists, who attacked a police outpost in Gurdaspur, killed in an encounter | Who is Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-American picked by Donald Trump as US AI policy advisor? | Mohali building collapse: Death toll rises to 2, many feared trapped for 17 hours | 4-year-old killed after speeding car driven by a teen hits him in Mumbai | PM Modi attends opening ceremony of Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait | Jaipur gas tanker crash: Toll touches 14, 30 critical | Arrest warrant against former cricketer Robin Uthappa over 'PF fraud' | PM Modi emplanes for a visit to Kuwait
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

China: UN urges release of detained social activists

| | Jun 04, 2014, at 05:29 pm
#China # United nations # detained social activists # Tiananmen Square protests
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday voiced concern about the detention of civil society activists, lawyers and journalists in China ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, while also stressing the need to establish the facts surrounding what transpired between 3 and 4 June 1989.
“I urge the Chinese authorities to immediately release those detained for the exercise of their human right to freedom of expression,” the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a news release. Dozens of individuals have allegedly been detained by the authorities ahead of the 4 June anniversary, including several reportedly detained and charged with “creating a disturbance” for participating in a private discussion about the 1989 Tiananmen Square events.
 
There are also reports that the authorities have been placing anniversary-related restrictions on social media, traditional media and internet usage.
 
“Rather than stifle attempts to commemorate the 1989 events, the authorities should encourage and facilitate dialogue and discussion as a means of overcoming the legacy of the past,” stated Pillay, who also stressed the need to carry out a truth-seeking process into the events.
 
“Much remains unknown about what exactly transpired between 3 June and 4 June 1989. In the absence of an independent, factual investigation, there are dramatically differing accounts. The death toll, for example, ranges from hundreds to thousands, and many families of victims are still awaiting an explanation of what happened to their loved ones,” she said.
 
“It is in the interests of everyone to finally establish the facts surrounding the Tiananmen Square incidents,” the High Commissioner added.
 
“China has made many advances over the past 25 years, particularly in the area of economic and social rights, as well as legal reforms. Learning from events of the past will not diminish the gains of the past 25 years, but will show how far China has come in ensuring that human rights are respected and protected.”
 
 
 (High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay addresses the opening of the twenty-fifth regular session of the Human Rights Council. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré)

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Related Images
In image Israeli strike in southern Gaza
In image Israeli strike in southern Gaza Dec 06, 2023, at 05:13 am
In Images: Uzbekistan presidential election
In Images: Uzbekistan presidential election Jul 10, 2023, at 07:08 pm
Xi Jinping, Putin in Russia
Xi Jinping, Putin in Russia Mar 22, 2023, at 08:26 pm