Premier Wen Jiabao Calls for Democracy Juxtaposed Against New Law Allowing Secret Prison System

Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

China’s Wen calls for ‘urgent’ political reforms

AFP – China could see a repeat of the Cultural Revolution’s deadly chaos without “urgent” political reform, Wen Jiabao warned Wednesday in a dramatic parting shot at his final news conference as premier. Wen is widely considered the most progressive of China’s leaders, but analysts said the comments.

Chinese lawmakers on Wednesday passed into law controversial changes that give the police powers to detain some suspects for up to six months in secret locations known as “black jails”. Detentions in unofficial locations such as hotels or guesthouses in China are well-documented.