Skip to main content

China airs confession from detained rights group founder

CHINESE TV has aired a video confession of wrongdoing by the detained Swedish co-founder of a human rights group.

Peter Dahlin was arrested en route to Beijing’s international airport on January 3.

In the confession aired late on Tuesday he admitted his Chinese Urgent Action Working Group (also known as China Action) trained and funded unlicensed lawyers “in clear violation of the law.”

Mr Dahlin apologised for hurting “the Chinese government and Chinese people.”

China Action called the confession “absurd” and “apparently forced” and denied stirring unrest in China.

But Chinese media said the group, which is based in Hong Kong and not permitted to operate in mainland China, took foreign money and paid lawyers to tarnish the country’s image.

The Xinhua News Agency quoted witnesses saying Mr Dahlin had been planted by “Western anti-China forces” to gather negative information about China.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 9,899
We need:£ 8,101
12 Days remaining
Donate today