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Is China
Afraid of Democracy?
Democracy
is such a powerful message it sends shivers down the spine of
dictators, ruling elites and dictatorial establishments across
the globe. Why these forces are afraid of democracy? There is
only one simple explanation: Dictatorial forces don’t want the
people should control the decision making processes.
People’s Republic of China which is People’s
Republic for name sake, and which calls its currency RMB, which
means the people’s money’ is also afraid of democracy. It is
afraid of democracy for the same reason. Like all other
dictatorial powers, it doesn’t like the people of People’s
Republic of China should control the decision making process in
China.
We learned about China’s fears of democracy
when during our recent visit we found out that People’s Republic
of China had officially blocked Pakistan Weekly, a US based
Internet weekly, which advocates democracy, human rights and
constitutionalism in Pakistan.
Pakistan Weekly loads up on systems all over
the world except China. Chinese government blocked Pakistan
Weekly, because its message about constitutionalism, democracy
and human rights is too powerful. They simply cannot handle it.
That is why they decided to deny access to Pakistan Weekly to
people of China.
We discussed the issue of press freedom with
editorial staff of Shanghai Daily. They claimed internet enjoyed
maximum freedom in People’s Republic of China. There were no
curbs on internet in China that is what they informed us, but
they refused to comment on Pakistan Weekly’s blockage in China.
However, they were happy that Shanghai Daily’s internet edition
was well received all across the globe and the list of its
subscribers was growing.
China is on the road to prosperity and
development. Growing number of elegant skyscrapers in Shanghai
and other cities of China, modern freeways, 35 miles long route
of experimental fastest train in the world and constant 8 – 10
percent economic growth rate show China’s promising future, but
widening gap between rich and poor and lingering scenes of
poverty across China also show the harsh reality that China
still needs to go a long way.
China cannot become a developed and modern
country without opening up its system to its people. Like all
other totalitarian systems, Chinese government is also very much
conscious about what goes on inside China at people’s level and
very much eager to curb the voices of dissent, but it is only
complicating the matters. More and more people are becoming
cognizant to the reality of corruption and injustice taking
place in higher echelons in China and they want to do something
about it.
While working on economic development,
Chinese government should also work on opening up its system to
its people. Without people’s involvement no change is
significant and meaningful. A gradual change and shift towards
democracy will help China to become a modern and developed
country in the real sense.
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