Laojiao

Laojiao (also known as reeducation through labor) is a system of administrative detentions in the People's Republic of China. The system was established by Mao Zedong in 1957 and was active until its abolition in 2013. Laojiao was used to detain persons for minor crimes such as petty theft, prostitution, and trafficking illegal goods, and it was often used as a tool for political repression.

History

The Laojiao system was established by Mao Zedong in 1957 as a means to punish "counter-revolutionaries" and other individuals deemed to be a threat to the stability of the Communist regime. The system was initially intended to be a short-term measure, but it was extended indefinitely in 1958.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), the Laojiao system was used extensively to detain and reeducate individuals who were accused of being "class enemies" or "rightists". Many of these individuals were intellectuals, former landlords, and other members of the old elite who were seen as potential threats to the Communist regime.

In the years following the Cultural Revolution, the use of Laojiao declined, but it remained in place as a tool for social control. In the 1980s and 1990s, the system was used to detain individuals involved in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, as well as members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement.

Abolition

The Laojiao system was officially abolished in 2013, following a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The decision was hailed as a major step forward for human rights in China, but some critics have argued that the system has simply been replaced by other forms of administrative detention.

See also

• Human rights in China
• Legal history of China
• Reeducation through labor
• Cultural Revolution
• Tiananmen Square protests of 1989