China’s ruling party tightens hold on NGOs

Beijing : In a bid to tighten its grip over the general public, China’s ruling Communist Party has decided to target non-governmental organizations. On Sunday evening, new guidelines were issued by the Communist Party offices and the ‘State Council’ of China. NGOs will now have to admit members of the Communist Party to their board committee and promoting the political ideology of the Communist Party are some of the conditions the new guidelines have laid down. In April, China had passed an independent law targeting foreign non-governmental organizations.

In China, there are more than 325 thousand NGOs and social establishments which include foreign as well as indigenous organizations. These organizations mostly comprises of, citizens of foreign origin, reporters, lawyers, small time entrepreneurs, the working class, youths, students including those who have returned after overseas education as well as those who are working overseas.

It is believed that this class, a product of China’s rapidly developed economy, does not quite align itself with the party’s ideology and in fact it opposes to a certain extent. Besides, it is this class that has, over the past few years, raised the issues of misappropriation by the ruling party, its leaders and members apart from the lack of freedom of expression. This has led to a feeling of discontent among the general public and this, in turn, has become a cause for concern for the ruling party. The new law and the new guidelines issued in April, all seem to be part of the preparations to crush the dissent on the ruling party’s views. The new guideline also authorizes the local committees to monitor the NGOs whereas the ‘Ministry of Civil Affairs’ has been authorized to question the validity and even effect a ban on the organization.

By the year 2020, China is planning to draw up an independent ‘Registry System’ of all the NGOs. Earlier, the law passed in April had targeted, Foreign NGOs to which, European countries along with US and international voluntary organizations had strongly opposed it. However, disregarding the said opposition, China released new guidelines which has mounted the pressure on the NGOs.