Government Plans to Give All NGOs Equal Treatment

In discussing current efforts to simplify the registration process for NGOs, the Minister of Civil Affairs, Li Liguo, noted that political and human rights NGOs would receive the same treatment as NGOs working in the social services and charitable sectors. This appears to be Li’s personal view that may also reflect the intentions of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but at this point it is doubtful whether this kind of equal treatment would actually be implemented.  A number of NGOs when asked about Minster Li’s comment expressed skepticism.  As one NGO activist noted, what organization would want to identify themselves as a political or human rights NGO in the first place?“