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{{Short description|Chinese politician}}
{{Chinese name|[[Luo (surname)|Luo]]}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Luo (surname)|Luo]]|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Luo Gan
| name = Luo Gan
| native_name = {{lang|zh-hans|{{nobold|罗干}}}}
| native_name = {{lang|zh-hans|{{nobold|罗干}}}}
| image =
| image =
| nationality = [[Republic of China|Chinese]]
| nationality = [[Republic of China|Chinese]]
| order = Secretary of the [[Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission]]
| order = Secretary of the [[Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission]]
| 1blankname = General Secretary
| 1blankname = General Secretary
| 1namedata = [[Jiang Zemin]]<br/>[[Hu Jintao]]
| 1namedata = [[Jiang Zemin]]<br/>[[Hu Jintao]]
| term_start = March 1998
| term_start = March 27, 1998
| term_end = October 2007
| term_end = October 22, 2007
| predecessor = [[Ren Jianxin]]
| predecessor = [[Ren Jianxin]]
| successor = [[Zhou Yongkang]]
| successor = [[Zhou Yongkang]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1935|7|18}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1935|7|18}}
| birth_place = [[Jinan]], [[Shandong]]
| birth_place = [[Jinan]], [[Shandong]], [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]]
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| spouse =
| party = [[Communist Party of China]]
| party = [[Chinese Communist Party]]
| caption = Luo in Tiajin (center) 2007.
|}}
}}
{{Chinese
{{Chinese
|title=Luo Gan
|title=Luo Gan
Line 34: Line 36:
}}
}}


'''Luo Gan''' ({{zh|s=罗干|t=羅幹}}; born July 18, 1935) is a retired Chinese politician. Between 2002 and 2007, Luo was one of China's top leaders, serving as a member of the nine-man [[Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China|Politburo Standing Committee]], and as the [[Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee|Secretary of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission]] (''Zhengfawei''), which became one of China's most powerful political offices, and well-funded bureaucracies, during Luo's term. In his ''Zhengfawei'' role, Luo held oversight for many law-enforcement institutions, including the police, public security officers, armed police, labor camps, prisons, and the judicial system. Luo retired from politics in 2007.
'''Luo Gan''' ({{zh|s=罗干|t=羅幹}}; born July 18, 1935) is a retired Chinese politician. Between 2002 and 2007, Luo was one of China's top leaders, serving as a member of the nine-man [[Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party]], and as the Secretary of [[Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission]] (''Zhengfawei''), which became one of China's most powerful political offices, and well-funded bureaucracies, during Luo's term. In his ''Zhengfawei'' role, Luo held oversight for many law-enforcement institutions, including the police, public security officers, armed police, labor camps, prisons, and the judicial system. Luo retired from politics in 2007.


==Early career==
==Early career==
Luo Gan was born in [[Jinan]], Shandong province. In 1953, he began studying engineering at the [[University of Science and Technology Beijing|Beijing Steel and Iron Institute]]. A year later, he was selected as part of a Chinese contingent to go study at [[University of Leipzig|Karl Marx University]] in [[Leipzig]], East Germany. He interned at the Leipzig steel and metalworks plant. He then continued studying machine works at [[Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg]]. Luo joined the Communist Party of China in 1960, while still in Germany. It was said that Luo had stellar grades and won the Agricola prize for academic achievement while studying in Germany.<ref name="april16">{{cite news|title=罗干出书谈政法综治工作 或解密内情|url=http://china.dwnews.com/news/2015-04-16/59647852.html|work=Duowei|date=April 16, 2015}}</ref>
Luo Gan was born in [[Jinan]], Shandong province. In 1953, he began studying engineering at the [[University of Science and Technology Beijing|Beijing Steel and Iron Institute]]. A year later, he was selected as part of a Chinese contingent to go study at [[University of Leipzig|Karl Marx University]] in [[Leipzig]], East Germany where he studied German language. He interned at the Leipzig steel and metalworks plant. He then continued studying machine works at [[Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg]]. Luo joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1960, while still in Germany. It was said that Luo had stellar grades and won the Agricola prize for academic achievement while studying in Germany.<ref name="april16">{{cite news|title=罗干出书谈政法综治工作 或解密内情|url=http://china.dwnews.com/news/2015-04-16/59647852.html|work=Duowei|date=April 16, 2015}}</ref>


Upon returning to China, Luo continued to work in the steel industry, first being sent to the [[First Ministry of Machine-Building of the PRC|First Ministry of Machine-Building]], a state-run department in charge of machines, telecommunications, and shipbuilding. There he worked as a technician and project leader in its mechanics department. As a technical specialist, Luo, like many others in his field, were displaced from their posts during much of the [[Cultural Revolution]], and sent to perform manual labour at a [[May Seventh Cadre Schools|May 7 Cadre School]]. In 1970, Luo returned to work in Henan province, working for a government machine-building project in [[Luohe]], then transferred to [[Zhengzhou]].<ref name="april16"/>
Upon returning to China, Luo continued to work in the steel industry, first being sent to the [[First Ministry of Machine-Building of the PRC|First Ministry of Machine-Building]], a state-run department in charge of machines, telecommunications, and shipbuilding. There he worked as a technician and project leader in its mechanics department. As a technical specialist, Luo, like many others in his field, were displaced from their posts during much of the [[Cultural Revolution]], and sent to perform manual labour at a [[May Seventh Cadre Schools|May 7 Cadre School]]. In 1970, Luo returned to work in Henan province, working for a government machine-building project in [[Luohe]], then transferred to [[Zhengzhou]].<ref name="april16"/>
Line 44: Line 46:
In October 1978, as part of a nationwide reshuffle following the demise of the [[Gang of Four]], former First Machine-Building minister [[Duan Junyi]] took on the post of party chief of central [[Henan]] Province. While in Henan, Duan was eager to promote his former associates, including Luo Gan. In 1980, Luo was made head of the provincial science and technology commission, and also a leader in the provincial trade office. A year later, Luo was made Vice Governor of Henan.<ref name="april16"/>
In October 1978, as part of a nationwide reshuffle following the demise of the [[Gang of Four]], former First Machine-Building minister [[Duan Junyi]] took on the post of party chief of central [[Henan]] Province. While in Henan, Duan was eager to promote his former associates, including Luo Gan. In 1980, Luo was made head of the provincial science and technology commission, and also a leader in the provincial trade office. A year later, Luo was made Vice Governor of Henan.<ref name="april16"/>


In 1983, Luo was sent to Beijing and became deputy chairman of the [[All-China Federation of Trade Unions]], the state-sponsored trade union group. As a major leader of the ACFTU, Luo was in charge of the day-to-day management of the organization. As a result of his tenure in the union, Luo was made Minister of Labour in March 1988. In December 1988, Luo took over duties of the [[Secretary-General of the State Council]] as a result of the illness of his predecessor.<ref name=xinhua>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/ziliao/2002-01/16/content_240564.htm Profile of Luo Gan], Xinhua.</ref>
In 1983, Luo was sent to Beijing and became deputy chairman of the [[All-China Federation of Trade Unions]], the state-sponsored trade union group. As a major leader of the ACFTU, Luo was in charge of the day-to-day management of the organization. As a result of his tenure in the union, Luo was made Minister of Labour in March 1988. In December 1988, Luo took over duties of the [[Secretary-General of the State Council]] as a result of the illness of his predecessor [[Chen Junsheng]].<ref name=xinhua>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/ziliao/2002-01/16/content_240564.htm Profile of Luo Gan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110010157/http://news.xinhuanet.com/ziliao/2002-01/16/content_240564.htm |date=2007-11-10 }}, Xinhua.</ref>


During his term as a minister, Luo had developed a close relationship with [[Li Peng]] came to be considered one of Li's protégés. Luo was appointed a [[State Councilor]], a position with equivalent rank but slightly lesser responsibility compared as a Vice-Premier, in 1993.<ref name=xinhua/> He served in the position until 2003. In September 1997 at the 15th Party Congress, Luo advanced further, being named a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, the Secretary of the [[Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission]] (''Zhengfawei''), and a member of the [[15th Politburo of the Communist Party of China]], joining the inner sanctum of party leaders.<ref name=xinhua/>
During his term as a minister, Luo had developed a close relationship with [[Li Peng]] came to be considered one of Li's protégés. Luo was appointed a [[State Councilor]], a position with equivalent rank but slightly lesser responsibility compared as a Vice-Premier, in 1993.<ref name=xinhua/> He served in the position until 2003. In September 1997 at the 15th Party Congress, Luo advanced further, being named a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, the Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (''Zhengfawei''), and a member of the [[15th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party]], joining the inner sanctum of party leaders.<ref name=xinhua/>


Luo oversaw a diverse portfolio with jurisdiction over law enforcement and internal security, as well as "comprehensive social management", a nebulous new phrase that essentially meant asserting control and preventing organized protests and social disturbances; as part of his responsibilities, he was tasked by [[Jiang Zemin]] to head the [[610 Office]], an extrajudicial organ established to suppress the spiritual group [[Falun Gong]]. As a result of his role, Luo faced heavy criticism from Falun Gong adherents.<ref name="rfa">{{cite news|title=罗干强调加强严打四种势力和法轮功|url=http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/79545-20020409.html|work=Radio Free Asia|date=April 9, 2004}}</ref>
Luo oversaw a diverse portfolio with jurisdiction over law enforcement and internal security, as well as "comprehensive social management", a nebulous new phrase that essentially meant asserting control and preventing organized protests and social disturbances; as part of his responsibilities, he was tasked by [[Jiang Zemin]] to head the [[610 Office]], an extrajudicial organ established to suppress the spiritual group [[Falun Gong]]. As a result of his role, Luo faced heavy criticism from Falun Gong adherents.<ref name="rfa">{{cite news|title=罗干强调加强严打四种势力和法轮功|url=http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/79545-20020409.html|work=Radio Free Asia|date=April 9, 2004}}</ref>


==Standing Committee==
==Standing Committee==
Luo entered the [[Politburo Standing Committee]] in 2002, at the [[16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China]] at the age of 67. The Standing Committee was expanded from seven members to nine in 2002, some say as a result of then-Party General Secretary [[Jiang Zemin]] attempting to stack the body with his supporters. Luo, then branded by overseas media as an associate of Li Peng, became a major beneficiary of this increase in membership. That he held a seat on the nation's highest ruling council, coupled with the relative weakness of the new party General Secretary [[Hu Jintao]], as well as the general focus placed by the Communist Party on internal security and combating dissent to party authority, vastly increased the power of the ''Zhengfawei'' portfolio. Regarded as the "security chief" of the country, Luo implemented the "strike hard" anti-crime campaign, increasing the harshness of sentences; some suggest that this policy led to increased executions; it was said that Luo had personally directed the suppression of illegal organisations and protests such as that at the [[Pubugou Dam]] protest in 2004.<ref name="wenxue">{{cite news|title=川民暴动，共军入川：未知胡温在哪里“执政为民”？|url=http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2004/11/08/19632.html|work=Voice of America via Wenxuecity}}</ref>
Luo entered the Politburo Standing Committee in 2002, at the [[16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party]] at the age of 67. The Standing Committee was expanded from seven members to nine in 2002, some say as a result of then-Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin attempting to stack the body with his supporters. Luo, then branded by overseas media as an associate of Li Peng, became a major beneficiary of this increase in membership. That he held a seat on the nation's highest ruling council, coupled with the relative weakness of the new party General Secretary [[Hu Jintao]], as well as the general focus placed by the Communist Party on internal security and combating dissent to party authority, vastly increased the power of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Regarded as the "security chief" of the country, Luo implemented the "strike hard" campaign against extremism in Xinjiang and against organised crime, increasing the harshness of sentences; some suggest that this policy led to increased executions; it was said that Luo had personally directed the suppression of "illegal organisations" such as the Falun Gong movement and protests such as that at the [[Pubugou Dam]] protest in 2004.<ref name="wenxue">{{cite news|title=川民暴动，共军入川：未知胡温在哪里"执政为民"？|url=http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2004/11/08/19632.html|work=Voice of America via Wenxuecity}}</ref>


Luo's term as ''Zhengfawei'' chief was also characterized by proponents of the [[Weiquan movement]] as having further solidified party control over legal and judicial affairs, and thus impeding progress on human rights and legal freedoms. During his tenure, Luo was seen to have warned party officials to rein in judicial independence and but also pay heed to the international implications of legal activities in China, while also expanding "rule by law".<ref name="feb3">{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Joseph|title=Chinese Official Warns Against Independence of Courts|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/03/world/asia/03china.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=February 3, 2007}}</ref>
Luo's term as the chief of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission was also characterized by proponents of the [[Weiquan movement]] as having further solidified party control over legal and judicial affairs, and thus impeding progress on human rights and legal freedoms. During his tenure, Luo was seen to have warned party officials to rein in judicial independence and but also pay heed to the international implications of legal activities in China, while also expanding "rule by law".<ref name="feb3">{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Joseph|title=Chinese Official Warns Against Independence of Courts|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/03/world/asia/03china.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=February 3, 2007}}</ref>


Luo retired from public life at the age of 72, after the [[17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China|17th Party Congress]] in the fall of 2007. By 2007, rules related to mandated retirement age have been largely entrenched within the Communist Party hierarchy. Luo, as the oldest member of the Standing Committee by that time, naturally must retire. His ''Zhengfawei'' portfolio was then inherited by [[Zhou Yongkang]], a former oil baron who went on to oversee an even greater expansion of powers of the portfolio. Zhou was eventually convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to prison.
Luo retired from the Politburo Standing Committee at the age of 72, after the [[17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|17th Party Congress]] in October 2007. By 2007, rules related to mandated retirement age have been largely entrenched within the Communist Party hierarchy. Luo, as the oldest member of the Standing Committee by that time, naturally must retire. His ''Zhengfawei'' portfolio was then inherited by [[Zhou Yongkang]], a former oil baron who went on to oversee an even greater expansion of powers of the portfolio. Zhou was eventually convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to prison in 2015.


Luo largely disappeared from the public eye following his retirement in 2007. In 2015, the Chinese authorities published ''Luo Gan on Law and Politics Work in China'' ({{lang|zh-hans|罗干谈政法综治工作}}), a compilation of Luo's thoughts on law enforcement work during his tenure. Luo also made a public appearance at the [[2015 China Victory Day Parade]].
Luo largely disappeared from the public eye following his retirement in 2007. In 2015, the Chinese authorities published ''Luo Gan on Law and Politics Work in China'' ({{lang|zh-hans|罗干谈政法综治工作}}), a compilation of Luo's thoughts on law enforcement work during his tenure. Luo also made a public appearance at the [[2015 China Victory Day Parade]].


On December 17, 2009, Argentinian Federal Judge Octavio Araoz de Lamadrid issued a national and international Interpol warrant for the detention of Luo Gan, along with Jiang Zemin. The warrant was issued with basis on the investigation of 17 testimonies of Falun Gong practitioners victims of persecution, along with reports by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the UN detailed in case Nº 17885/2005.<ref name="dec22">{{cite news|title=El Juez Federal Octavio Araoz de Lamadrid libró órdenes de captura internacional por delitos de Lesa Humanidad cometidos en al República Popular China|url=http://www.noticiasjudiciales.info/Ediciones_Anteriores/Noticias_del_Dia/El_Juez_Federal_Octavio_Araoz_de_Lamadrid_libro_ordenes_de_captura_internacional_por_delitos_de_Lesa_Humanidad_cometidos_en_la_Republica_Popular_China|work=Noticias Judiciales|date=December 22, 2009}}</ref><ref name="dec27">{{cite news|title=Crisis con China por el pedido de captura de un ex presidente|url=https://www.treslineas.com.ar/crisis-china-pedido-captura-presidente-n-196121.html|work=Tres Lineas|date=December 29, 2009}}</ref><ref name="dec28">{{cite news|title=Defienden fallo con pedido de captura para ex jerarcas del partido comunista chino|url=http://masquenoticiasblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/defienden-fallo-con-pedido-de-captura.html|work=Mas que noticias|date=December 28, 2009}}</ref><ref name="dec25">{{cite news|title=Justicia Argentina emite orden de captura contra ex líderes chinos|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzTm5Wr7I-o |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/fzTm5Wr7I-o| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|work=China en Foco - NTD|date=December 25, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="dec272">{{cite news|title=Una piedra en el camino que llevará a la presidenta Cristina Kirchner a China|url=https://www.ellitoral.com.ar/corrientes/2009-12-27-21-0-0-una-piedra-en-el-camino-que-llevara-a-la-presidenta-cristina-kirchner-a-china|work=El Litoral|date=December 27, 2009}}</ref>
==Notes==

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


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{{s-prec}}
{{s-prec}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Li Changchun]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Li Changchun]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=9th [[Orders of precedence in the People's Republic of China|Rank of the Communist Party of China]]<br /><small>16th [[Politburo Standing Committee]]</small>}}
{{s-ttl|title=9th [[Orders of precedence in the People's Republic of China|Rank of the Chinese Communist Party]]<br /><small>16th [[Politburo Standing Committee]]</small>}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Wang Lequan]]<br><small>(Member of the Politburo)</small>}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Wang Lequan]]<br><small>(Member of the Politburo)</small>}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{16th Politburo of the Communist Party of China}}
{{7th State Council of China}}
{{8th State Council of China}}
{{16th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party}}
{{15th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party}}
{{State councillors}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Luo, Gan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luo, Gan}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Communist Party of China politicians from Shandong]]
[[Category:Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]
[[Category:Chinese Communist Party politicians from Shandong]]
[[Category:Politicians from Jinan]]
[[Category:Politicians from Jinan]]
[[Category:People's Republic of China politicians from Shandong]]
[[Category:People's Republic of China politicians from Shandong]]
[[Category:Members of the 16th Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China]]
[[Category:Members of the 16th Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party]]
[[Category:Members of the 15th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party]]
[[Category:State councillors of China]]

Latest revision as of 14:49, 19 March 2024

In this Chinese name, the family name is Luo.
Luo Gan
罗干
Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission
In office
March 27, 1998 – October 22, 2007
General SecretaryJiang Zemin
Hu Jintao
Preceded byRen Jianxin
Succeeded byZhou Yongkang
Personal details
Born (1935-07-18) July 18, 1935 (age 89)
Jinan, Shandong, Republic of China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Luo Gan
Traditional Chinese羅幹
Simplified Chinese罗干
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLuó Gàn

Luo Gan (simplified Chinese: 罗干; traditional Chinese: 羅幹; born July 18, 1935) is a retired Chinese politician. Between 2002 and 2007, Luo was one of China's top leaders, serving as a member of the nine-man Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and as the Secretary of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (Zhengfawei), which became one of China's most powerful political offices, and well-funded bureaucracies, during Luo's term. In his Zhengfawei role, Luo held oversight for many law-enforcement institutions, including the police, public security officers, armed police, labor camps, prisons, and the judicial system. Luo retired from politics in 2007.

Early career

[edit]

Luo Gan was born in Jinan, Shandong province. In 1953, he began studying engineering at the Beijing Steel and Iron Institute. A year later, he was selected as part of a Chinese contingent to go study at Karl Marx University in Leipzig, East Germany where he studied German language. He interned at the Leipzig steel and metalworks plant. He then continued studying machine works at Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg. Luo joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1960, while still in Germany. It was said that Luo had stellar grades and won the Agricola prize for academic achievement while studying in Germany.[1]

Upon returning to China, Luo continued to work in the steel industry, first being sent to the First Ministry of Machine-Building, a state-run department in charge of machines, telecommunications, and shipbuilding. There he worked as a technician and project leader in its mechanics department. As a technical specialist, Luo, like many others in his field, were displaced from their posts during much of the Cultural Revolution, and sent to perform manual labour at a May 7 Cadre School. In 1970, Luo returned to work in Henan province, working for a government machine-building project in Luohe, then transferred to Zhengzhou.[1]

Rise to power

[edit]

In October 1978, as part of a nationwide reshuffle following the demise of the Gang of Four, former First Machine-Building minister Duan Junyi took on the post of party chief of central Henan Province. While in Henan, Duan was eager to promote his former associates, including Luo Gan. In 1980, Luo was made head of the provincial science and technology commission, and also a leader in the provincial trade office. A year later, Luo was made Vice Governor of Henan.[1]

In 1983, Luo was sent to Beijing and became deputy chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the state-sponsored trade union group. As a major leader of the ACFTU, Luo was in charge of the day-to-day management of the organization. As a result of his tenure in the union, Luo was made Minister of Labour in March 1988. In December 1988, Luo took over duties of the Secretary-General of the State Council as a result of the illness of his predecessor Chen Junsheng.[2]

During his term as a minister, Luo had developed a close relationship with Li Peng came to be considered one of Li's protégés. Luo was appointed a State Councilor, a position with equivalent rank but slightly lesser responsibility compared as a Vice-Premier, in 1993.[2] He served in the position until 2003. In September 1997 at the 15th Party Congress, Luo advanced further, being named a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, the Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (Zhengfawei), and a member of the 15th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, joining the inner sanctum of party leaders.[2]

Luo oversaw a diverse portfolio with jurisdiction over law enforcement and internal security, as well as "comprehensive social management", a nebulous new phrase that essentially meant asserting control and preventing organized protests and social disturbances; as part of his responsibilities, he was tasked by Jiang Zemin to head the 610 Office, an extrajudicial organ established to suppress the spiritual group Falun Gong. As a result of his role, Luo faced heavy criticism from Falun Gong adherents.[3]

Standing Committee

[edit]

Luo entered the Politburo Standing Committee in 2002, at the 16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the age of 67. The Standing Committee was expanded from seven members to nine in 2002, some say as a result of then-Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin attempting to stack the body with his supporters. Luo, then branded by overseas media as an associate of Li Peng, became a major beneficiary of this increase in membership. That he held a seat on the nation's highest ruling council, coupled with the relative weakness of the new party General Secretary Hu Jintao, as well as the general focus placed by the Communist Party on internal security and combating dissent to party authority, vastly increased the power of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Regarded as the "security chief" of the country, Luo implemented the "strike hard" campaign against extremism in Xinjiang and against organised crime, increasing the harshness of sentences; some suggest that this policy led to increased executions; it was said that Luo had personally directed the suppression of "illegal organisations" such as the Falun Gong movement and protests such as that at the Pubugou Dam protest in 2004.[4]

Luo's term as the chief of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission was also characterized by proponents of the Weiquan movement as having further solidified party control over legal and judicial affairs, and thus impeding progress on human rights and legal freedoms. During his tenure, Luo was seen to have warned party officials to rein in judicial independence and but also pay heed to the international implications of legal activities in China, while also expanding "rule by law".[5]

Luo retired from the Politburo Standing Committee at the age of 72, after the 17th Party Congress in October 2007. By 2007, rules related to mandated retirement age have been largely entrenched within the Communist Party hierarchy. Luo, as the oldest member of the Standing Committee by that time, naturally must retire. His Zhengfawei portfolio was then inherited by Zhou Yongkang, a former oil baron who went on to oversee an even greater expansion of powers of the portfolio. Zhou was eventually convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to prison in 2015.

Luo largely disappeared from the public eye following his retirement in 2007. In 2015, the Chinese authorities published Luo Gan on Law and Politics Work in China (罗干谈政法综治工作), a compilation of Luo's thoughts on law enforcement work during his tenure. Luo also made a public appearance at the 2015 China Victory Day Parade.

On December 17, 2009, Argentinian Federal Judge Octavio Araoz de Lamadrid issued a national and international Interpol warrant for the detention of Luo Gan, along with Jiang Zemin. The warrant was issued with basis on the investigation of 17 testimonies of Falun Gong practitioners victims of persecution, along with reports by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the UN detailed in case Nº 17885/2005.[6][7][8][9][10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "罗干出书谈政法综治工作 或解密内情". Duowei. April 16, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Profile of Luo Gan Archived 2007-11-10 at the Wayback Machine, Xinhua.
  3. ^ "罗干强调加强严打四种势力和法轮功". Radio Free Asia. April 9, 2004.
  4. ^ "川民暴动，共军入川：未知胡温在哪里"执政为民"？". Voice of America via Wenxuecity.
  5. ^ Kahn, Joseph (February 3, 2007). "Chinese Official Warns Against Independence of Courts". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "El Juez Federal Octavio Araoz de Lamadrid libró órdenes de captura internacional por delitos de Lesa Humanidad cometidos en al República Popular China". Noticias Judiciales. December 22, 2009.
  7. ^ "Crisis con China por el pedido de captura de un ex presidente". Tres Lineas. December 29, 2009.
  8. ^ "Defienden fallo con pedido de captura para ex jerarcas del partido comunista chino". Mas que noticias. December 28, 2009.
  9. ^ "Justicia Argentina emite orden de captura contra ex líderes chinos". China en Foco - NTD. December 25, 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.
  10. ^ "Una piedra en el camino que llevará a la presidenta Cristina Kirchner a China". El Litoral. December 27, 2009.
[edit]
Government offices
Preceded by Minister of Labor
1988 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Secretary of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission
1998–2007 		Succeeded by
Order of precedence
Preceded by 9th Rank of the Chinese Communist Party
16th Politburo Standing Committee 		Succeeded by
Wang Lequan
(Member of the Politburo)
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