Liu Di freeIn a sign that China may be loosening the reins on Internet users, the government this week released Liu Di, a 23-year-old psychology student, who was jailed for over a year after mocking China’s political system on the Internet.
The Beijing Normal University student had been in custody, without charges, since November 2002, when she arrested at the university and her father’s home was ransacked by police, who confiscated a computer, disks and books. Known as the %stainless steel mouse…, Liu Di became popular with some Chinese students. Her essays became legendary: In one, Liu ironically suggested all Communist party members go on the streets to sell Marxist literature and preach Lenin’s theory, like real Communists. She also wrote that China’s repressive national security laws are bad for the nation%s security. ,,As long as you feel you%re completely free to make your own decision, then even if you are living in a Nazi camp…you are still free,” Liu wrote in one essay. ,,The Chinese Communist Party in reality has power over us, but if we can’t feel it, pretend and live as if it doesn’t exist.” Since her detainment, hundreds of Chinese Internet users began using the Chinese characters for ‘stainless steel’ in their pen-names as a form of protest. Now that Liu Di is out of jail, her status remains unclear. The government has 12 months to bring formal charges against her.
Cereal criminals
An attack of late-night hunger during exams week landed four first-year students at Florida Atlantic University in jail. The 18-year-old women were studying into the early morning hours when they decided to take some cereal, fruit and other snacks worth about $25 from the University Center Marketplace kitchen. Spotted by a maintenance worker who called campus police, the four were arrested and taken to Palm Beach County Jail. ,,Burglary is entering and remaining in a place with the intent to commit a crime,” campus policeman Chuck Aurin said. ,,They broke the law.”
Instructor fired
TU Delft has fired Dirk Westland, an instructor in transportation engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, effective immediately. The TU charged Westland with conflict of interest and damaging the good name of the university. Westland is an activist against government plans concerning the extension of the A4 motorway. Westland had been reprimanded four times in the past for his alleged failure to properly separate his job as a TU instructor from his activist activities. Last May, Westland compared the then Dutch Minister of Transport & Water with the infamous Nazi Adolf Eichmann, and he also called VVD Parliamentarian Hofstra a ,,suspected facilitator of construction fraud”, in reference to the construction scandal that rocked the government and building industry last year. Westland later apologized for his remarks and had promised to alter his behaviour in future. But now, a few possibly provocative emails from his work email address has led to his dismissal. Westland plans to appeal against the decision.
Students strike
Thousands of striking Lebanese students have marched through Beirut’s streets demanding more government spending on the national university. More than 10,000 students and lecturers marched on Thursday to the downtown offices of Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. The students want more funding to modernize the university’s old buildings and professors demand better benefits. The Lebanese University has more than 70,000 students, mostly from middle class and poor families who cannot afford the country’s expensive private universities. A full-year costs about $200, while studying in a private university can cost up to $13,000 a year.
Student killed
A Palestinian student was shot dead near her university in the West Bank after her taxi reportedly broke through an Israeli army roadblock. Kamlah al-Shuli, 20, was hit by two bullets in the chest when Israeli soldiers opened fire. She was on her way to nearby al-Najah University. The taxi driver was detained for questioning, Israeli military sources said. Israel occupation forces say roadblocks are necessary to prevent resistance attacks. Human rights groups say the roadblocks are a form of collective punishment.
Liu Di free
In a sign that China may be loosening the reins on Internet users, the government this week released Liu Di, a 23-year-old psychology student, who was jailed for over a year after mocking China’s political system on the Internet. The Beijing Normal University student had been in custody, without charges, since November 2002, when she arrested at the university and her father’s home was ransacked by police, who confiscated a computer, disks and books. Known as the %stainless steel mouse…, Liu Di became popular with some Chinese students. Her essays became legendary: In one, Liu ironically suggested all Communist party members go on the streets to sell Marxist literature and preach Lenin’s theory, like real Communists. She also wrote that China’s repressive national security laws are bad for the nation%s security. ,,As long as you feel you%re completely free to make your own decision, then even if you are living in a Nazi camp…you are still free,” Liu wrote in one essay. ,,The Chinese Communist Party in reality has power over us, but if we can’t feel it, pretend and live as if it doesn’t exist.” Since her detainment, hundreds of Chinese Internet users began using the Chinese characters for ‘stainless steel’ in their pen-names as a form of protest. Now that Liu Di is out of jail, her status remains unclear. The government has 12 months to bring formal charges against her.
Cereal criminals
An attack of late-night hunger during exams week landed four first-year students at Florida Atlantic University in jail. The 18-year-old women were studying into the early morning hours when they decided to take some cereal, fruit and other snacks worth about $25 from the University Center Marketplace kitchen. Spotted by a maintenance worker who called campus police, the four were arrested and taken to Palm Beach County Jail. ,,Burglary is entering and remaining in a place with the intent to commit a crime,” campus policeman Chuck Aurin said. ,,They broke the law.”
Instructor fired
TU Delft has fired Dirk Westland, an instructor in transportation engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, effective immediately. The TU charged Westland with conflict of interest and damaging the good name of the university. Westland is an activist against government plans concerning the extension of the A4 motorway. Westland had been reprimanded four times in the past for his alleged failure to properly separate his job as a TU instructor from his activist activities. Last May, Westland compared the then Dutch Minister of Transport & Water with the infamous Nazi Adolf Eichmann, and he also called VVD Parliamentarian Hofstra a ,,suspected facilitator of construction fraud”, in reference to the construction scandal that rocked the government and building industry last year. Westland later apologized for his remarks and had promised to alter his behaviour in future. But now, a few possibly provocative emails from his work email address has led to his dismissal. Westland plans to appeal against the decision.
Students strike
Thousands of striking Lebanese students have marched through Beirut’s streets demanding more government spending on the national university. More than 10,000 students and lecturers marched on Thursday to the downtown offices of Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. The students want more funding to modernize the university’s old buildings and professors demand better benefits. The Lebanese University has more than 70,000 students, mostly from middle class and poor families who cannot afford the country’s expensive private universities. A full-year costs about $200, while studying in a private university can cost up to $13,000 a year.
Student killed
A Palestinian student was shot dead near her university in the West Bank after her taxi reportedly broke through an Israeli army roadblock. Kamlah al-Shuli, 20, was hit by two bullets in the chest when Israeli soldiers opened fire. She was on her way to nearby al-Najah University. The taxi driver was detained for questioning, Israeli military sources said. Israel occupation forces say roadblocks are necessary to prevent resistance attacks. Human rights groups say the roadblocks are a form of collective punishment.
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