CHINA:In a sign of growing intolerance of dissent ahead of the Olympics in Beijing this summer, a Chinese activist who criticised the games is due to go on trial this week after he called for more focus on human rights.
Yang Chunlin, an unemployed factory worker from Jiamusi city in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, faces charges of subverting state power for his activism, which has involved petitions, denouncing government corruption and seeking democratic reform of the one-party state.
Last year, he helped organise a petition, which was signed by 10,000 villagers, over a land dispute, which declared: "We don't want the Olympics, we want human rights."
Mr Yang's timing couldn't be worse as sensitivities about the games are high at the moment in Beijing. He could face several years in jail for criticising the Olympics, which are seen as a crucial way for the government to highlight China's economic prosperity, social cohesion and the economic fruits of the 30 years of opening up and reform the country has witnessed.
However, the Communist Party brooks no dissent and has kept dissidents on a tight rein - police recently formally arrested prominent Beijing dissident Hu Jia, who was detained for inciting subversion after vocally supporting campaigns for democratic reform, Aids patients and environmental protection. He is in custody and there has been no word on when he will face trial.
Mr Yang (51) goes on trial tomorrow on charges of "inciting subversion of state power", the same charge being levelled against Mr Hu. Earlier this month, a Chinese court sentenced democracy activist Lu Gengsong to four years in prison on the same charge.
According to his sister, Mr Yang was tortured while in detention, including having his arms and legs stretched and chained to the corners of an iron bed.
The leadership in Beijing was clearly stung by international criticism following US director Steven Spielberg's decision to quit as artistic adviser to the Olympics, and has stepped up the spin.
State media have started a campaign defending Beijing's record on Darfur.
After initial inertia, media reports and blog entries have been critical of Spielberg, saying he does not understand a complex situation.
Beijing has gone on the offensive over the Spielberg affair and the Xinhua news agency ran an interview at the weekend with China's ambassador to Sudan, Li Chengwen.
"China is very concerned about the crisis in Darfur, and we have been making unremitting efforts to help resolve the crisis," Mr Li said, focusing on China's co-operation with the UN on resolving the Darfur crisis.
Another area where China is facing criticism ahead of the Olympics is over its record on combating pollution, and the International Olympic Committee president has said some of the open-air endurance events might have to be rescheduled if the air quality does not improve.
In the latest effort to clean up the air, authorities have said they will ban sales of new cars that fail to meet new Euro IV emission standards, starting from March.
Beijing has about 3.1 million motor vehicles, and every day about 1,200 new ones hit the road.