Litigation could lead to unrest, say cadres
Authorities in some provinces have warned lawyers to refuse cases tied to tainted milk out of fear litigation could lead to 'social unrest', a representative of the lawyers says.
Organisers of a group of 90 lawyers who have offered free legal advice to needy parents affected by the crisis said judicial departments in some provinces had pressured them to stay clear of the issue.
Veteran rights lawyer Li Fangping said officials either asked the them point-blank to withdraw from the group or said they should join the local lawyers' association if they wanted to help the victims.
He said he was not warned to pull out, but that the Beijing Lawyers' Association had asked him 'to put faith in the party and government'.
Lawyers' associations are very much part of the government apparatus.