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A group of Communist Party veterans has written a daring openletter calling for the removal of China's top security official, inthe latest sign of disunity ahead of a once-a-decade leadershiptransition. Security chief Zhou Yongkang, one of China's top nine rulers, isviewed as a hardliner and is linked to Bo Xilai, the charismaticparty leader whose downfall earlier this year triggered thenation's biggest political scandal in decades. The letter, published on a number of overseas websites, is anaudacious step in China, where open dissent or organised criticismof top leaders is usually severely punished. Zhao Zhengrong, a retired anti-corruption official from thesouthwestern province of Yunnan, told AFP he and 15 other partymembers from the same province had sent the proposal advocatingZhou's removal to higher authorities. Zhou is expected to step down from the nine-member StandingCommittee, and as head of the party's Politics and Law Commission-- which oversees China's judiciary, prosecution and police -- atthe party congress later this year. But removing him earlier would send a signal to the people on whichdirection the nation was heading, the open letter said. "We are demanding this because Zhou Yongkang directed the'Chongqing model' and supported Bo Xilai. They are liars, they areof the same ilk," Zhao said. Two other signatories also confirmedthe authenticity of the letter to AFP. Zhao was referring to Bo's rule of the southwestern metropolis ofChongqing, which included an anti-mafia crackdown that many sayinvolved widespread use of torture, and a leftist revival that sawresidents sing Maoist songs. During his five years in the position, Zhou, who oversees a budgetthis year of $111.6 billion -- higher than China's declaredmilitary budget -- has gained a reputation as a hardliner willingto use force to quell unrest. He has overseen the quelling of riots in Tibet in 2008, and inXinjiang in 2009, as well as a crackdown on democracy and rightsactivists. Analysts say Bo's March removal as Chongqing head and hissubsequent suspension in April from the party's 25-member Politburoare indicative of a major split between hardliners and reformers atthe helm of the ruling party. The scandal is a huge embarrassment for the government, which hadbeen keen to project an image of unity as it gears up for thesensitive handover to a new leadership later this year. The letter, which is dated May 4 and can be seen atcanyu.org/n48532c6.aspx, accuses Zhou of "giving activesupport" to Bo. "Facts that are coming to light now, prove the behaviour of BoXilai did not lead to ordinary mistakes, but to serious crimes," itsaid. "People like Zhou Yongkang, not only took part in Bo Xilai's planfor the 'Chongqing model', but helped push it forward and gave itactive support. He should not be allowed to escape his crimes." Rights activists have accused Zhou of manipulating the judiciaryand police to aid Bo's extra-legal crackdown on organised crime inChongqing. "Bo Xilai's attack on the mafia depended on the judicial systemunder the leadership of Zhou Yongkang, including the police, courtsand the prosecution," retired Shandong University professor andsocial critic Sun Wenguang told AFP. "The methods they were using to attack the mafia were destroyingjudicial independence and judicial fairness. This led to a lot ofunjust trials and further spread terror throughout society." Sun said Zhou was also likely consulted on the arrest of rightsactivists including Chen Guangcheng, who recently sought refuge inthe US embassy, and the convictions of activists such as jailed2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo and Gao Zhisheng. "When they were striking at the mafia, they were also hitting outat those who held opposing views," Sun said. "The dissidents and democracy activists, those with opposing views,were being grouped together with real criminals." On Tuesday, state media gave prominent coverage to a May 9 speechin which Zhou pledged allegiance to President Hu Jintao and therule of law, in a possible attempt to quell rumours that he hadalready been stripped of his responsibilities. I am an expert from welding-electrodeoven.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Flux Drying Oven , Portable Electrode Oven Manufacturer, Electrode Holding Oven,and more.
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