SOUTH MORNING POST THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 A13

Alex Lo The plight of a ‘rights lawyer’ under illegal house arrest reflects [email protected] Beijing’s fear of dissent, write Jerome A. Cohen and Yu-Jie Chen All the rage

t’s been said that a gentleman never offends unintentionally. But the converse is also true – that he never takes offence unless he chooses to. It is ungentlemanly – and unladylike – to Prisoner in his own home take offence easily; and it is barbaric if being offended throws one into a murderous rage. The ability to control our response Ito offences directed at people, values and beliefs we hold dear is a sign of the mastery of self, a sophistication of mind. We should all condition ourselves to be slow to take offence. The world would be a more peaceful, or at least a quieter, place. In this regard, we live in a most uncivil age. Globalisation and the technologies that underpin it have taken electronic hile hundreds today”. They did not know how to respond. communication to near the speed of light. And that means we – of thousands When we repeatedly asked their legal basis with our rude messages and uncouth thoughts – are constantly in flood the for isolating Zheng, they became annoyed each other’s faces. Thanks to the wonders of electronic media, we World Expo in and said it was none of our business. After experience this simultaneity in newspaper columns and reader every some time, the standoff ended when they responses, in internet forums and chat groups; so we often react day, former told us to come back at 10am the next day. instantly, driven by our biases, prejudices and prejudgments. lawyer Zheng We arrived the next morning with little Instant rage is something new in our age. The great American Enchong hope, and at first a new group of guards journalist Walter Lippmann told an amusing story, apparently is again told us to leave. But persistence true, in his classic Public Opinion about a group of Englishmen, forbidden to eventually paid off, and the police, perhaps Frenchmen and Germans who holidayed, on the eve of the first even leave his apartment in the city. His worried about bad publicity during expo, world war, on an island reached by no cables and visited by a mail Whome has been his prison since his official recorded the details of our US and Taiwan boat only once every two months. For weeks they acted as if they prison sentence ended in June 2006. travel documents, sought higher were friends when in fact they were enemies because their Around the clock, 12 guards, including instructions and finally let us in. countries were at war. That would never happen today, because uniformed police, plain-clothes public We were warmly welcomed by Zheng, they would instantly know their nations were at war. security officials and their hired hands, take his wife and her brother, who lives down The world’s wars, conflicts and crises are not only broadcast turns manning the outer gate, building the hall. Zheng seemed buoyed by our visit live on TV, but show up instantly on our computer screens. One or entrance and hallway outside Zheng’s and spoke passionately about his career more of these conflicts are bound to touch our personal likes and apartment. Strategically posted and plight. During the Cultural Revolution, dislikes at a deep level – our innermost beliefs. Thus, Jews are upset surveillance cameras ensure that no one in after fighting on the losing side in a struggle that the world is upset about Israel’s deadly raids on an aid- the vicinity can escape police eyes. Zheng, between Red Guard factions, he was exiled bearing flotilla; Catholics take offence at suggestions that the who is 60, only leaves when summoned by to the countryside for 11years before Vatican at the highest levels suppressed disclosure of priestly police and has been summoned at least 77 returning to a variety of factory and paedophiles over decades and across continents; many Chinese – times since 2006 for interrogations that are government jobs. He began to study law in and I count myself among them – are intimidating and occasionally physically 1985 and passed the lawyers’ exam two sick and tired of Westerners constantly abusive. His home has been searched 11 years later. In 1994, after Zheng started Controlling rounding on China about its exchange times, and five computers have been representing clients who claimed they had rate regime, investments across Africa confiscated. He generally has no internet been illegally evicted from their residences, our anger is and for causing the global financial access, and his phone is monitored when the authorities began to delay the required a sign of the crisis because of trade imbalances. not disconnected. annual renewal of his lawyer’s licence, and And we all – Jews, Muslims, Italian His wife is allowed daily trips to market in 2001 the Shanghai Judicial Bureau mastery of Catholics, Chinese nationalists and but is always followed. When police refused to renew it outright. whatnot – can feed on our rage by Nevertheless, Zheng continued to self, a responding as fast as our fingers can advise evicted people. After exposing a type. I am no brain scientist, but I Zheng’s illegal house major real estate scandal involving sophistication believe a different part – the more arrest began immediately corruption among a well known Shanghai of mind reptilian sections – of our brain are tycoon and high-up Communist Party ...... triggered by, or triggers, those instant after his June 2006 leaders and their families, he was detained responses. That is why the internet is in May 2003 and convicted of “providing full of vile comments that most of us would not be caught dead release from prison, state secrets to an overseas organisation”, voicing in front of other people. There is something to be said for the New York-based NGO, Human Rights snail mail and old-fashioned letter writing, which frustrates instant and no end is in sight in China. Although the alleged “state gratification, delays responses and forces the thinking parts of the ...... secrets” concerned a large-scale public brain to formulate a considered reaction. protest and an “internal” government Just as road rage poses a mortal danger to road users, so our prevent her from going out during magazine’s report on an eviction case, the propensity for angry reactions and ease with which we take “sensitive” times, they shop for the family! prosecution was an apparent retaliation for offence pose a challenge to the body politic. Muslims who called After authorities made it clear that Zheng’s Zheng’s exposure of the scandal. The court for death to cartoonists who drew caricatures of the Prophet are teenage daughter had no future in China, sentenced him to three years’ not really different from those tea party movement types in she fled to the US. imprisonment and one year’s subsequent America who darkly hint at welcoming the assassination of their Almost all journalists and foreigners deprivation of political rights. first black president. Their rage is the kind of negative energy that who try to visit Zheng have been Zheng’s illegal house arrest began demagogues have always exploited and channelled to further their intercepted, as one of us was four years immediately after his June 2006 release former lawyer , and incongruously, lay a Bible. Zheng, a devout own agendas and spread their twisted messages. ago. Yet, to our surprise, we managed to from prison, and no end is in sight. The he is happy not to have been forced abroad Christian like many “rights lawyers”, The internet and modern communications technology just see him on May 29, after a failed attempt government does not even offer a fig leaf to like his own defence lawyer, Guo Guoting. explained to us: “I gave them the Bible to make it easier for them to do it faster, and take it further and wider. the day before. We were the first foreigners justify his confinement. Yet he is restrained more than the “rights read; otherwise it would be too boring for And that is true not only in the developing South, but in the rich to see him in 17 months. Despite China’s legislative and lawyers” who, despite daily harassments, them to stay here such a long time. It is my North, in dictatorships or authoritarian states as much as in The previous day we had been stopped institutional progress, in reality no remain on the street, albeit no longer faith.” American democracy. Just think of such odious US broadcasters as at the entrance by a plain-clothes theoretical remedy is available to free him. licensed to practise. Will the blind but ...... Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh, their jihadist counterparts on the policeman. He nervously blocked us with Plainly the government fears Zheng. The dynamic “” Chen Professor Jerome A. Cohen is co-director internet, propagandists-cum-editors at Xinhua and our own crowd control tape, told us to leave and articles on land issues and human rights Guangcheng undergo similar unlawful of NYU School of Law’s US-Asia Law rabble rousers in the Legislative Council. called another guard. When asked why we that he still occasionally circulates through punishment when he is released from his Institute and adjunct senior fellow By being civil, by suppressing the reptilian parts of our brain, could not see Zheng, the policemen surreptitious means suggest why. If Zheng long prison sentence this autumn? for Asia at the Council on Foreign we are saying “no” to these people. We are contributing our part, mumbled “something has come up on that were free, he would undoubtedly write, say As we left his apartment, Zheng walked Relations. Yu-Jie Chen is a Taiwan lawyer however small, to world peace. floor today” and later “something has and do more. us to the hallway where two guards were and research fellow of US-Asia Law ...... come up in the public security bureau Zheng is luckier than the “disappeared” seated on a couch. Near them, Institute. See also www.usasialaw.org Alex Lo is a senior writer at the Post

Voices: Economy Voices: Asia Voices: Iran For Asia, euro crisis holds Obama no-show leaves Why dialogue is best doubts on commitment hope to end stand-off lesson on single currency ...... go with China’s charm offensive, the even as Iran refuses to budge. To Ernie Bower Charles Kupchan apparent lack of US focus will make give up on diplomacy is to leave the ...... The prophetic novelist Thomas the region’s leaders feel anxious. It Saturday marks the first anniversary international community with two In response to the crisis, Asians Indeed, given that depreciation is Wolfe said that “you can’t go home may also have them thinking about of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s ugly options: living with a nuclear Takatoshi Ito sought to establish an Asian a key tool for engineering a fast again” and, apparently, he was right. strategic alternatives which could disputed re-election as Iran’s Iran or carrying out a preventive The euro zone is sometimes dubbed Monetary Fund, which would help economic recovery, why not invite Last week, US presidential influence thinking about regional president. Despite the Iranian military strike against Iran’s nuclear “Euroland” by Americans (and some any crisis-hit country by providing Greece to leave the euro zone? After spokesman Robert Gibbs delivered structures. Is the US really ready to opposition’s continuing efforts to installations. Asians). Given its echoes of massive liquidity assistance. But the all, by staying in the euro, a rapid the verdict on the third attempt for be part of the East Asia Summit? contest the outcome and advance Should Iran possess the ultimate Disneyland, a place of fantasy, that is International Monetary Fund and export-led recovery would be President Barack Obama to visit To his credit, Obama made the liberalisation, Ahmadinejad and his weapon, it might embrace a new a far more mocking than useful the US rejected the idea. Now the impossible. Indonesia, a country where he grew call early, phoning President Susilo allies have largely succeeded in restraint in its foreign policy. But the nickname. Europeans are setting up a The evolution of the Greek crisis up and a relationship his Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime consolidating their hold on power. Iranian regime is no ordinary Ever since the euro was first European Monetary Fund in co- is different from the Asian crisis. administration hopes to enhance. Minister Kevin Rudd, to explain the Meanwhile, the crisis over Iran’s government; it may not adhere to proposed, sceptics (mostly operation with the IMF. Europeans now have a regional Gibbs explained that, with the urgency of the situation in the Gulf. nuclear programme is escalating. the normal practices. American) and believers (mostly Announcing an IMF programme monetary fund, which Asians Gulf of Mexico still in crisis, the Both leaders have said they Iran continues to defy the A military strike would probably European) have fiercely debated the was not what calmed markets in wanted but could not have. The president could not follow through understand and there are plans to international community’s efforts to have worse consequences. Even if a economic preconditions for the South Korea and Indonesia in 1997. political will to protect the euro is on his planned visit to Indonesia meet on the sidelines of the G20 prevent it from developing nuclear strike was an operational success, it single currency, its benefits and its strong – perhaps strong enough to and to one of America’s five treaty meeting in Toronto later this month. weapons. In response, US President would only set back Iran’s nuclear political feasibility. Economists who override moral-hazard concerns. To allies in Asia, Australia. This is the But the damage is done. Barack Obama’s administration has programme by several years – while promote regional integration in Asia To keep the keep the euro zone intact, regardless third time – the proverbial third The factor that must be been working through the UN giving the regime a new incentive to have observed the debate with of the cost, became Europe’s only strike – that the president has addressed to prevent this situation Security Council to impose tougher acquire a nuclear deterrent. amazement, in that the fault line is euro zone intact, viable option once the single postponed his trip. from becoming endemic is that economic sanctions. The third reason for pursuing not based on economic philosophy regardless of the cost, currency was adopted. This decision belies a narrative leaders – like Obama – must have The Iranian government’s dialogue is that factional infighting but on a transatlantic divide. So, as “Euroland” risks breaking the Obama administration had tried the courage to explain to Americans intransigence, its blatant efforts to and political intrigue within the US economists have argued that became Europe’s up over the Greek crisis, musically to write that it was going to get Asia why travelling to countries like mislead nuclear inspectors, its Iranian regime make for the euro zone’s economies are too versed economists recall the cryptic right and engage the region to Indonesia – the fourth largest nation odious calls for the destruction of considerable political fluidity. The diverse, with too many institutional only viable option last line of that 1970s pop song Hotel advance US interests in a serious in the world – and Australia – a treaty Israel, its brutal repression of internal jockeying for power means differences and labour-market ...... California by the Eagles: and sustained manner. It would ally and critical friend – is as political opponents – all provide that a coalitional alignment rigidities, to form an optimal “You can check out any time you reverse the woeful attendance important to the country’s economy good reason for Obama to slam the favouring a negotiated settlement currency area. A common monetary In the end, South Korea was saved like, but you can never leave.” record of the Bush administration and national security as the door shut on dialogue. With just might fall into place. policy combined with independent by co-ordinated forced rollovers of That line resonates as Germany for showing up for the major events Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the diplomacy having failed to curb Finally, continued engagement fiscal policy is bound to fail. foreign banks’ lending (why not try and Greece contemplate their in Asia, and understood that “being Gulf and that he needs to follow Iran’s nuclear ambitions, critics of may offer a roundabout means of European believers insist that the that in Greece?), and Indonesia shared fate. Their worries are an there” was more than half the battle through on plans to develop ties engagement charge, it is time to arriving at a bargain on the nuclear single currency is really founded on experienced financial meltdown, object lesson for those Asians who for reversing perceptions of US with these countries while he resort to coercion. issue. Dialogue with the US could the strong political will to secure because the country could not fulfil are still contemplating deeper disengagement. That storyline has manages the Gulf situation using But closing off dialogue with Iran focus on areas, such as Iraq and eternal peace in Europe. Even if the much of the IMF’s conditionality. economic integration in the form of now lost credibility. technology and his team. would be a dangerous mistake. For Afghanistan, where the two parties euro zone might not satisfy the Two differences between the Asia a shared currency. The decision will also send A creative writer like Wolfe would four compelling reasons, the US and share some common ground. necessary economic preconditions crisis of 1997 and today’s Greek crisis ...... tremors of uncertainty through be hard pressed to come up with a its allies should keep the door open It is tempting for the US at the outset, economic variables stand out. One concerns who Takatoshi Ito, professor of Southeast Asia. Indonesia is the plot in which a British oil company to dialogue until the 11th hour. administration to turn its back on would converge later on. During the borrowed the money. In Greece, the economics at the University of Tokyo, largest country in the Association of not only fouls the world renowned First, tighter sanctions make dialogue. But the stakes are too high. euro zone’s first, prosperous, problem is with sovereign deficits, is a former senior adviser in the Southeast Asian Nations and it is Gulf oyster but also derails a sense only as a diplomatic tool, not Even with new sanctions, dialogue decade, European believers seemed while the problem in Asia was research department of the IMF well known that Obama has a close significant element of US foreign as a blunt instrument of coercion. If still offers the best prospect for to have won the debate. unmonitored private-sector debt. personal interest in this anchor policy in Asia. Truth, once again, they prove useful, tougher sanctions peacefully resolving what may be Asians have watched the The second difference concerns Contact us Agree nation. If he can’t show up there outperforms fiction. will do so by confronting Iran with a the world’s most dangerous dispute. formerly triumphant euro’s Greek the exchange-rate regime. The US or disagree with the after three attempts, how likely is it ...... united diplomatic front, thereby ...... crisis with a muted sense of and the IMF had encouraged Asian opinions on this that the US is serious about Ernie Bower is senior adviser pushing its government to make a Charles A. Kupchan is professor of vindication. Back in 1997, many countries to increase exchange-rate page? Write to us at sustaining its involvement in the and director at the CSIS Southeast deal to end the country’s isolation. international affairs at Georgetown Asians thought that the speculative flexibility. The depreciation that [email protected] region at a political level? At a time Asia Programme. Distributed Second, the costs of abandoning University and a senior fellow at the attacks then being mounted on followed the crisis helped accelerate If you have an idea for an opinion when the region has serious by Pacific Forum CSIS. diplomacy are so high that Council on Foreign Relations. Asian currencies were unjustified. recovery by boosting exports. article, e-mail it to [email protected] questions about how far it wants to Copyright: Pacific News Service continued engagement makes sense Copyright: Project Syndicate