In January 1998, Gao Hongming, a veteran of China’s 1978-79 Democracy Wall Movement, and Zha Jianguo 查建国, wrote to the head of the state-controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), Wei Jianxing, and applied for permission to form an autonomous labour group called the China Free Workers Union. In a statement faxed to the National People’s Congress at that time, Gao said: “China’s trade unions at all levels have become bureaucracies, and their officials reduced to bureaucrats. This has resulted in the workers becoming alienated [from the official union].” In early 1999, after also playing a leading role in the formation of the now-banned China Democratic Party (CDP), both Gao Hongming and Zha Jianguo were arrested and charged with “incitement to subvert state power.” On August 2, Gao was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and Zha to nine years. On September 17, 1999 the Beijing High People's Court rejected the appeals of both men.
June 2005
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