New Chinese Interpol chief sparks rights concerns

AFP, NUSA DUA, Indonesia: A Chinese security official was elected president of Interpol Thursday for the first time, sparking criticism from activists who say Beijing uses the agency to track down dissidents abroad.
Vice Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei was chosen as the new head of the global police organisation at its annual general assembly on the Indonesian island of Bali, France-headquartered Interpol announced. He is the first Chinese official to hold the post, China’s official Xinhua news agency said, and takes over from Frenchwoman Mireille Ballestrazzi.
While it could provide a boost to China’s campaign to hunt alleged economic criminals abroad as part of a much-publicised anti-graft drive, rights groups raised concerns that Beijing’s intentions may be more sinister.
“It’s worrying in the sense that for a long time, China has been using... Interpol to arrest dissidents and refugees abroad,” William Nee, China researcher at Amnesty International, told AFP.

New Chinese Interpol chief sparks rights concerns

AFP, NUSA DUA, Indonesia: A Chinese security official was elected president of Interpol Thursday for the first time, sparking criticism from activists who say Beijing uses the agency to track down dissidents abroad. Vice Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei was chosen as the new head of the global police organisation at its annual general assembly on the Indonesian island of Bali, France-headquartered Interpol announced. He is the first Chinese official to hold the post, Chinas official Xinhua news agency said, and takes over from Frenchwoman Mireille Ballestrazzi. While it could provide a boost to Chinas campaign to hunt alleged economic criminals abroad as part of a much-publicised anti-graft drive, rights groups raised concerns that Beijings intentions may be more sinister. Its worrying in the sense that for a long time, China has been using... Interpol to arrest dissidents and refugees abroad, William Nee, China researcher at Amnesty International, told AFP.