Two police trucks, over 80 “security agents” and a dozen plain clothes police, as well as para-state officials. This is the small army which on the morning of October 11th blocked a group of Chinese disabled (linked to a private NGO) who wanted to participate in the closing ceremony of the “special” Olympics in Shanghai.The group – comprising about 100 people, disabled, parents and support teachers – had been in Shanghai since October 5th participating in the Special Olympics for the disabled organised by the government in the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
On the last day, as they left the hotel there were staying at, they were met by this show of force that detained then for the entire afternoon and then escorted them to the train station, to make sure of their departure.
Among the “security service”, says the source, “there were some members of the Federation of the Disabled, a government organism which manages the vast majority of Chinese disabled. The disabled detained instead were linked to Huiling, a Chinese non governmental organisation which takes care of the physical and psychological wellbeing of the disabled in view of their reintegration in society”.
During the sequester, “the children were very disturbed: it’s not every day, not even in China that you witness such a show of force including police trucks. For the mentally disabled, the experience was truly traumatic”.
There are many motives behind this episode: in fact the group participated without any apparent problems in the 5 days of the games but “it was blocked ahead of the closing ceremony because it was there were political authorities and many celebrities present, among them actors and singers. The Huiling group may not have had all their documents in order, but the hostility of the Federation towards this NGO must be noted”.
The Chinese government has a debateable stance towards the disabled, considered “non –existent” during the Mao era.
In the last few years, Beijing created its own Federation, accused by many of mistreating the handicapped and illicitly misappropriating public funds.
Chinese NGO’s are permitted, but are under constant control.
“The Huiling –concludes the source - is a prime example of this. It has branches in over 8 cities across China, which are registered separately even if they are part of the same organisation: the government believes the group could become too powerful and therefore represent a factor of instability for the state”.
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