Excerpted from Reuters (via AsiaOne):
Some lawyers at the firm, Yitong, had also been involved in calling for direct elections to the state-controlled Beijing Lawyer's Association, which had angered the government, the New York-based group Human Rights in China said in a statement.
"The six-month shutdown sends a chilling warning to all lawyers that the authorities will not tolerate any perceived challenges to their power. This is not the path to a rule of law," said Sharon Hom, the group's executive director.
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For more information on this issue:
- Human Rights in China, Beijing Law Firm Yitong is Shut Down for Six Months; Staff Lawyers Ordered to Turn in Licenses, March 18, 2009
- Human Rights in China, Beijing Lawyers Association Violates Its Own Rule in Removing Independent Candidates from Election of Representatives, March 6, 2009
- Human Rights in China, Beijing Law Firm Faces Six-Month Shutdown for Attorneys' Support of Direct Bar Election February 19, 2009
- Human Rights in China, Lawyers Are Dismissed by Firms for Supporting Beijing Lawyers Association Direct Election, Law Firms are Threatened October 31, 2008
- Beijing Lawyers Association Direct Election website (CH)
- Appeal by 35 Lawyers August 26, 2008 (CH)
- "Stern Statement" by Beijing Bar Association September 5, 2008 (CH)