Chinese rights activists fearful as policeman takes charge of legal affairs

FILE PHOTO - Fu Zhenghua, head of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, is pictured during a meeting in Beijing, China January 17, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese rights lawyers and activists say the promotion on Monday of former police official Fu Zhenghua to head China's justice ministry signals an even deeper freeze on attempts to use the country's legal system to defend against rights abuses.

Lawmakers at China's annual meeting of parliament rubber-stamped the appointment of Fu, previously a deputy head of China's ministry of public security, to take charge of the department in charge of maintaining and improving China's legal system. Fu was preceded by Zhang Jun, who is now head of the state prosecutor and courts.