By Gudrun Schultz
BEIJING, China, January 10, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Segolene Royal, who is considered likely to win the next French presidential election, questioned Chinese officials about that country’s imprisonment of lawyers and journalists yesterday during her three-day visit to the country, Asia Media reported.
Ms. Royal handed a list of the names of two lawyers and three journalists imprisoned on questionable charges to a leading official in the Communist Party’s international department, Mr. Zhang Zhijun, during a luncheon meeting.
Among those included on the list was blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng, who was imprisoned after extended persecution by officials over his work exposing brutal human rights violations in China’s enforcement of the one-child policy.
Others on her list included human rights advocate Gao Zhisheng, under house arrest, and three journalists imprisoned on varying charges including subversion and spying.
“Segolene Royal has demanded answers on what has happened to these three journalists, all who are jailed,” said delegation member Jean-Pierre Mignand.
Ms. Royal believes the imprisonments constitute a violation of international human rights conventions that China has promised to recognize, Mr. Mignard said.
The leader of the French Socialist party, Ms. Royal has been clear in her support for liberal social policies, including pro-abortion laws and homosexual “marriage,” in promoting her bid for the presidency in 2007. Ms. Royal , 53, has four children.
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