15 Guangdong NGO Workers Arrested for Embezzlement, Disturbing Social Order

15 Guangdong NGO Workers Arrested for Embezzlement, Disturbing Social Order
Dec 14, 2015 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s Note: Working for an NGO in China comes with some occupational hazards, mainly the risk of being swept away by the Communist's Party. Apolitical NGOs are ok in the PRC's books, but some are considered a threat to the nation's stability. Organizations that do not shy away from politics, those representing workers on strike for example, are going to have a difficult time registering with the Ministry of Public Security after vague laws were passed this year seeking to "protect the country from hostile elements". The impact of these laws are being felt in Guangdong now, an area currently experiencing tense labor disputes. After the arrests of 15 NGO employees representing workers being treated unfairly by their employers, it is becoming clear that the PRC tightening its control in the name of national security, but at the expense of the little guy whose only voice is now behind bars.

On December 3, 15 labor rights NGO staff were taken away by police on various charges. The arrested workers were employed by various Guangdong organization. Those detained included He Xiaobo, head of South Foshan Feiyan Social Work Center, Zeng Feiyang, head of Panyu Work Group, Pangyu Work Group staff member Zhu Xiaomei, Haige Labor Service Department staff member Chen Huihai, and Luo Hongmei, head of Sunflower Working Women Service Center.

Suspicion of Embezzlement
He Xiaobo was charged with “suspicion of embezzlement,” on December 4. Zeng Feiyang and Zhu Xiaomei were charged with for “disturbing social order.” The three were detained in the Foshan Nanhai Detention Center and Guangzhou Number 1 Detention Center. Luo Hongmei and Chen Huihai were released, but will be summoned at a later date for trial.

He Xiaobo’s friends and colleagues, at 15:20 on December 2, said he was taken away by police. Shortly after, his wife received a call. “They took me downstairs, everything is all right.” He’s wife said that police searched his home and office on the evening of the 3rd. The police confiscated all of the family’s electronic products, his financial records, and his records from his work at his NGO.

Embezzlement refers to a company or an individual within a company taking advantage of their position and gaining property illegally for themselves. In China, embezzlement is punishable by five or more years in prison.

Disturbing Social Order
The consequences of disturbing social order are also serious. It can cause serious losses in work, production, business, research, teaching and more. Disturbing social order is punishable by three to seven years in prison, public surveillance, or deprivation of political rights.

South Foshan Feiyan Social Work Center focuses on helping injured workers. The company first registered with Foshan’s Civil Affairs Bureau in 2012 and has worked to expand community services to migrants, support education for the children of migrants, help migrant women receive maternity support and leave and more. The NGO has assisted more than 30,000 injured workers and helped nearly 10,000 receive compensation for injuries. He has received various awards from the Foshan municipal government for his charity work.

This past June, the Feiyan Social Work Center was deemed qualified by the Foshan Civil Affairs Bureau in its annual assessment. The institute is government supported.

The positive assessment had a direct impact on the social work center’s operations. The center received 100,000 Yuan in 2015 to finance a project, but made no progress in publicizing their work. In addition, the NGO ended a project with another Foshan organization earlier than scheduled.

Registrations Revoked
Panyu Work Group was founded in 1998 to provide legal services to migrant workers in Guangdong. In late October, early November this year, the NGO helped Panyu sanitation workers win social security and labor contracts.

The NGO was unable to register with the Civil Affairs Bureau, and ultimately registered as an individual business. However, they did not pass their assessment by the local bureau and their qualifications were revoked.

Sunflower Working Women Service Center was founded in 2012. The organization is supported by the Guangdong Women’s Federation, Guangzhou Women’s Federation and the Communist Youth League of Guangzhou. The NGO even has registered investors.

Sunflower Center has assisted a number of factory workers in human rights cases. However, in June, the NGO had an administrative penalty hearing issued by the Panyu Civil Affairs Bureau. The hearing was held because the NGO “has no fixed office space, the director and majority of its full-time staff have either left or do not show interest in the day-to-day operations, there is no mechanism to keep track of funds, and it does not register projects according to regulations.” The Civil Affairs Bureau ruled to revoke the NGO’s registration in the hearing.

Source: QQ News

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Keywords: Chian NGOs arrest labor violations arrest

2 Comments

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knightly

So much for stamping out corruption, eh China? As soon as big business feels threatened the storm troopers roll in and find people "embezzling" or "disturbing the social order" (the social order of big business first and human rights last). A few weeks ago NGO workers were "prostituting" themselves. Shame on you China!

Dec 21, 2015 20:02 Report Abuse

RiriRiri

Summarizes into: "That rare remnant of former civil society still standing gets shred because of babble babble babble"

Dec 14, 2015 21:43 Report Abuse