To the Editor:
Re “Tibetans Fear Philanthropist’s Ordeal Shows Broadening of Crackdown” (news article, NYT, June 24):
China’s brutal arrest of Karma Samdrup, a 42-year-old Tibetan philanthropist whose crime was trying to save his brothers from labor camp and torture, reveals more than Beijing’s continued repression. It highlights the existence of a small segment of Chinese dissidents who have unique resources to publicize their message.
Another famous example is Rebiya Kadeer, a highly successful Uighur businesswoman who spent six years behind bars for championing the rights of her people, and now lives in exile in the United States. Zhang Xin, a Chinese tycoon, may not qualify as a dissident, but has posted on Twitter on justice and human rights and spoken publicly of her Bahai principles.
Chinese advocates of human rights with the greatest ability to succeed should be identified and supported by the international community. It’s a smart investment that would ultimately benefit the population at large.
Hillel C. Neuer
Executive Director, U.N. Watch
Geneva, June 28, 2010
