Pitiable addition to the China-bashers

THE prime aim of the capitalist media has always been to use its power to attack the working-class movement and countries which have taken the socialist path.

Recently, the Western media, encouraged by mainly US-sponsored groups set up to destabilise left and progressive countries, has engaged in a campaign to demonise China.

Surprisingly to some, using the Beijing Olympics as a motive, Amnesty International has joined this tirade.

It has delivered through letter boxes a scurrilous full-colour pamphlet that contains hackneyed distortions and lies about China.

According to the unknown authors of this leaflet, China is a country of "mass executions" where "torture is widespread" and there is "widespread repression in Tibet."

They also claim that "freedom of expression is brutally restricted" and "hundreds of thousands" are held in "enforced labour camps."

This is very reminiscent of the similar slanders that were used against the former Soviet Union by the enemies of that country.

None of the charges above are substantiated by facts or evidence, except that invented by the CIA-funded Dalai Lama and other US-sponsored Tibetan exile groups.

Propaganda such as this does nothing to serve international understanding.

Referring to "China-bashing," a rare commentary on CNN by Professor Ling-Chi Wang of the University of California made the pertinent observation that the Western "media, politicians and organised groups prefer to use sound bites and, frequently, disinformation to perpetuate ignorance, fear and racial hostility or, worse, hatred towards China.

"Humility and compassion, not hypocrisy and self-righteousness, is what is needed."

It's a pity that Amnesty is willing to join in with the China-bashers.

DICK MAUNDERS
Axminster