Arrests and ethics in China’s quake zone

Another activist is taken into custody after helping families who lost children in the May earthquake. And authorities have drafted up rules giving teachers a moral responsibility to protect students.

News of the detention of another person in connection to their work with survivors of the devastating 12 May earthquake is hardly a bombshell.

In the last few weeks Chinese authorities have cracked down – sometimes using physical force – on protests and memorials by grieving parents. They also have blocked foreign journalists from visiting earthquake affected areas and ordered state media to stop reporting about the schools that collapsed in the earthquake.

The quake in the Sichuan province killed more than 70,000 people, including thousands of children who died when the school buildings they were in collapsed.

Spreading rumours

Radio Free Asia reports that police have apparently detained a teacher called Liu Shaokun, who had publicly criticised the construction of the collapsed school buildings.

An officer at Deyang police station – the area where Liu Shaokun lives – said he wasn't aware of the arrest, but declined to say more. However, a friend of the missing teacher, who was taken away on 25 June, told Radio Free Asia:

" … "He is accused of spreading rumors and instigating parents to negotiate with the government—sort of disturbing the social order. He isn't allowed to see his family …

" "He is a volunteer. He brought his camera and went to many places after the earthquake. He took many pictures and posted them on the Web. He is a teacher and angry that the government didn't pay more for the relief effort, so even more students died." …"

Held on suspicion

Liu Shaokun is not alone - rights activist and cyber-dissident Huang Qi is also in detention in connection with his work with families affected by the earthquake.

Huang Qi, founder of a human rights website, was arrested on 10 June, and is being held on suspicion of "illegally acquiring state secrets".

According to Amnesty International's sources, this is because of his workhelping families of students who died bring a legal case against local authorities over the poorly constructed school buildings.

Then there's retired university professor Zeng Hongling who wrote stories criticising the way authorities had handled the relief aid. The professor has been in detention since 9 June on charges of "inciting state subversion".

Teacher ethics

Meanwhile, China has moved to exercise control of school teachers in the post-quake fallout.

Reuters reports that the education ministry has deemed it’s "the moral responsibility" of a teacher to protect their students. The edict is included in a draft revision of teacher-student ethics regulations.

The move comes after the controversy sparked by Fan Meizhong, a high school teacher, who when the quake hit ran from his classroom before his students. None of students died in the disaster, but he later lost his job in connection with the incident and his comments afterwards.

Reuters reports:

" … "The revision ... says teachers should 'be good mentors and helpful friends'," the paper said ..."