"Soft Detention" of Yuan Weijing Continues: Journalist Beaten, Barred from Meeting

作者：CHRD 文章来源：CHRD 更新时间：2009-3-11 2:26:22
http://crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200903/20090311022622_14209.html

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 10, 2009) -Yuan Weijing (袁伟静), the wife of imprisoned rights activist Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚), remains confined to her home and surrounded by guards. On March 8, a prominent investigative journalist and his student were threatened and attacked as they tried to visit her.

"While China marked International Women's Day with official ceremonies, Ms. Yuan and her family enjoyed no respite from the relentless restriction of movement and the ban on contacting the outside world to which they have been subjected. Why is a government which enjoys 'world power' status so afraid of a woman taking care of her small children and an elderly mother, while her husband, who is blind, languishes in jail?" asked Renee Xia, CHRD's international director.

On the afternoon of March 8, Wang Keqin (王克勤), journalist for Economy Daily (经济时报), his student Zhou Fuzhi (周福志), along with a driver and a local friend, travelled to Yuan's home in Dongshigu Village, Yinan County, Shandong Province, to speak with her and bring her, Chen's mother, and Yuan's two children some food and gifts. When they reached the entrance to the village, they were met by an unidentified man who questioned them aggressively about the purpose of their visit and then followed them as they made their way through the village. Once Wang's car reached the gate of Yuan's house, he and Zhou were accosted by a group of guards which later grew to more than 10 men, who forbade them from seeing Yuan, ordered them to leave the village, and threatened violence if they would not comply. The men would not say who they were or why Wang and Zhou could not visit Yuan. As Wang, refusing to be bullied, insisted on delivering the food and gifts, the men grew violent and pushed Wang and Zhou back towards their car, kicking and striking them as they got into their vehicle. As Wang and his group fled the village, they were pursued by two men on motorcycles, and only when they left Shandong province later that evening were they sure that their pursuers were out of sight.

Wang was able to reach Yuan by phone shortly after they had left the village to let her know of the situation. Yuan said that the men guarding her kept her and her family under 24-hour surveillance, rotating in shifts of 11 guards. Yuan expressed relief that Wang and Zhou were not injured, stating that friends who had come to visit her last year were seriously beaten by the same group of guards. She added that she has now lived under continuous surveillance by these men for more than one year, and that the guards monitor her family's conversations as well as restricting their freedom to work, shop, or even leave their own house. She has only been allowed one visit with her imprisoned husband in the past 12 months.

"The attack on journalists attempting to visit Ms. Yuan and the year-long illegal detention of the family make a mockery of China's 'rule of law' reforms highlighted in Premier Wen Jiabao's speech this week during the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing," said Renee Xia.

Background

Yuan, an English teacher and wife of imprisoned human rights defender Chen Guangcheng, became the victim of retaliation by local authorities after helping her husband reveal the use of violence in a local birth control campaign and publicly opposing the illegal imprisonment of her husband. Since September 2005, she has been under intermittent residential surveillance.

Chen, a human rights activist, self-taught legal advisor, and "barefoot lawyer" from Linyi City, Shandong Province, was convicted of "intentionally damaging property and gathering crowds to disturb transport order" and sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment on March 11, 2006. It is believed that Chen was imprisoned for exposing extensive violence in the implementation of the government's population policy in Linyi City. Chen also worked for years to protect the rights of farmers and the disabled.

Media contacts for this press release:

Renee Xia, International Director (English and Mandarin): +852 8191 6937

Wang Songlian, Research Coordinator and English Editor (English, Mandarin and Cantonese): +85281911660

For more information:

"Investigative Journalist Wang Keqin Beaten for Visiting Chen Guangcheng's Family" (调查记者王克勤探望陈光诚家人被打) (March 10, 2009)
/Article/Class18/Class51/200903/20090310140814_14196.html

Imprisoned Human Rights Defender Chen Guangcheng Denied Medical Care (January 14, 2009)
http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200901/20090115134520_13092.html

Shandong Officials Continue Harassing Wife of Jailed Human Rights Defender (November 24, 2007)
http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class15/200711/20071124042658_6495.html

Wife of Jailed Human Rights Defender Barred from Seeking Medical Treatment (October 31, 2007)
http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200710/20071031120202_6177.html

Yuan Weijing, activist, under residential surveillance, house arrest (May 31, 2007)
http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class48/Class62/200705/20070531232542_4508.html

China vs. a Blind Human Rights Defender: A Report on the Case of Imprisoned Chen Guangcheng (February 20, 2007)
http://www.crd-net.org/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=3485 (Part 1)
http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class48/Class62/200702/20070222210628_7953.html (Part 2)

Shao Jiang: Speech at the Tibetan Rally

http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk/blogs_entry.asp?eid=2762
================================================

Shao Jiang: Speech at the Tibetan Rally on 7th of March 2009

Thank you. It is my great honor to speak at this important historical moment.

I’m here today to express Chinese solidarity with Tibetans, to let you know that there are many Chinese who support the right to the self-determination of the Tibetan people.

2009 marks a series of important anniversaries. It is 50 years since the Tibetan Uprising, 20 years since the Tiananmen Massacre, and the Chinese Communist Party will have wielded power for 60 years. Over this time, more than one million Tibetans and 50 million Chinese died under the tyrannical rule of the Communist Party.

How has the Communist Party succeeded in oppressing such a huge population? Not only by lies and tanks, but also by turning different groups of people against each other. And now they are trying to provoke racial hatred between the Tibetan people and the Chinese people. That’s why it is very important that we stand together in solidarity against the same dictator.

The determination and persistence of the Tibetan people over so many years have moved and inspired many Chinese to fight for our own freedom. In Mainland China, there are more and more people who practice grassroots self-determination and civil resistance. They are setting up independent trade unions, independent peasant associations, fighting for freedom of expression.

Last week, a Chinese blogger published an apology to Tibetans, which I’d like to read out here:

‘I am a Han Chinese. I want to apologize to all Tibetans, for the atrocities committed by Chinese against Tibetans, and for my inability to stop the evil deeds. Although I have not been directly involved in those criminal atrocities, the crimes that have been committed in the name of my ethnic group and the shame that this has brought about must belong to me, because I was not able to stop them.

‘Yes, those Chinese who have whipped knives and uttered curses against Tibetans, have also whipped their knives and uttered their curses against Chinese, as well as other ethnic groups. Nonetheless each knife whipped and each curse uttered have added to my shame. I must apologize, out of shame, to Tibetans.

‘I must also examine myself more carefully, working harder to expose more truths. More truths, which at least may reduce the occurrence of crimes.’

This apology from the Chinese blogger expresses the feelings of many Chinese. This sense of shame will drive more and more Chinese to stand with the Tibetan people and fight for our freedom together.

Yes, Tibet will be free. China will be free.

==============================================================

Five Detained for Organizing Factory Sit-in

Five Detained for Organizing Factory Sit-in in Chongqing;
Six Injured during Workers Demonstration in Sichuan Province

作者：CHRD 文章来源：CHRD 更新时间：2009-2-25 20:26:36
http://crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200902/20090225202636_13905.html

Five Detained for Organizing Factory Sit-in in Chongqing; Six Injured during Workers Demonstration in Sichuan Province (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, February 25, 2009) - CHRD learned today that five workers at a silk factory, Tongliang County, Chongqing Municipality, have been detained for organizing a factory sit-in. The workers are representatives of about 800 dismissed workers who have been seeking pensions and medical insurance following the factory's closure. CHRD also learned today that six have been injured by the police during a workers' demonstration in Sichuan Province.

Factory Sit-in in Chongqing

On February 15, Tongliang County Public Security Bureau (PSB) asked the five representatives, Tang Aimin (唐爱民), Hu Weimin (胡卫民), Li Taiyuan (李太元), Ou Hongyong (欧红勇) and Wang Yu (汪宇), to meet with the authorities to "discuss the problem of the plant". The five were then taken into police custody.Tang and Hu have been criminally detained on suspicion of "gathering crowds to disturb social order" but it is unclear where they are currently being held. Li, Ou and Wang have been administratively detained on suspicion of "gathering crowds to disturb social order" in Tongliang PSB Detention Center. Other workers involved have been summoned or "invited for chats" by the local police. Police warned the workers that if they continue to "stir up trouble", they would be arrested as well, and these workers are being closely monitored and followed by the police. According to workers, the police have said that Tang and Hu will be sentenced to between three and seven years of imprisonment.

The silk factory announced its bankruptcy in 1996 and was sold in 1998. At the time of the sale, the workers were not notified of the fate of the factory and were dismissed after being given between RMB 5,000 and 6,000. The workers suspected that the factory was sold at a massive discount and they suspected that the sale was a result of corrupt dealings involving local officials. After studying national regulations regarding workers dismissed due to factory bankruptcy and re-structuring, the workers believe that they are entitled to pensions, medical insurance, or at least compensation appropriate to the number of years they have worked in the factory. The workers have repeatedly complained to the relevant government offices s but have received no response.

In 2008, the factory's equipment was sold. The factory itself is set to be demolished and the land sold for property development. In the beginning of 2008, the dismissed workers decided to occupy the factory and resist the demolition as an act of protest. In the latter half of 2008, in response to the workers' sit-in, Tongliang County government asked the workers to elect representatives for negotiation with the government.

On February 16, the day after these five representatives were detained, about 2,000 government workers surrounded the silk factory and ordered those workers at the factory to leave. The workers refused to budge. Four hours later, the authorities ordered a group to enter the factory. The authorities had to withdraw after the occupying workers threatened with explosive oxygen containers. This is the first time a direct confrontation occurred since the workers occupied the factory.

Workers' Protest in Sichuan Province

Between February 20 and 23, police clashed with about 1,000 workers from a textile factory in Zigong City, Sichuan Province, who have been demonstrating outside of the Zigong City government building. Six protestors were beaten and injured by the police. Liu Zhengyou (刘正有), a human rights activist documenting the protest, was interrogated for four hours and had his camera confiscated. It is believed that the workers are still demonstrating. However, much remains unclear about the protest. CHRD will closely monitor its development.

Recommendations

CHRD believes that Tang Aimin, Hu Weimin, Li Taiyuan, Ou Hongyong and Wang Yu have been detained solely for the peaceful activities of organizing fellow workers. The right to freedom of association is guaranteed in Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as Article 35 of the Chinese Constitution.

CHRD calls on the Tongliang County government to immediately release the detained workers and negotiate with their representatives.

CHRD is concerned that by detaining the workers and entering the factory by force, the Tongliang County authorities might turn a peaceful sit-in into a violent confrontation.

Yuan Xianchen Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for "Inciting Subversion of State Power"

作者：CHRD 文章来源：CHRD 更新时间：2009-3-6 13:34:05
http://crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200903/20090306133405_14109.html
Yuan Xianchen Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for "Inciting Subversion of State Power"

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders- March 6, 2009) - Human rights activist and "barefoot lawyer" Yuan Xianchen (袁 显臣), of Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province, was found guilty on March 4 of "inciting subversion of state power" and sentenced to four years in prison and five years' deprivation of political rights. This verdict comes nearly two months after Yuan was tried by the Jixi City Intermediate People's Court on January 12.

"This verdict is grossly unjust. The trial should have been declared invalid because the Jixi court admitted evidence extracted by torture against Yuan. The court never called for an investigation of torture alleged by the defendant, as requested by his lawyers," said Renee Xia, CHRD's international director. Yuan told his lawyers prior to his trial that he had been severely tortured in detention and coerced to confess. For more information, please see CHRD's press release "After Torture in Detention, Legal Activist Yuan Xianchen Goes on Trial."

Yuan protested the verdict and vowed to appeal the decision. Yuan's wife, Ms. Zhang, received a written verdict from the Jixi City Intermediate People's Court on March 5.

The crime of "inciting subversion of state power" is stipulated under Article 105(2) of the Chinese Criminal Code, and since its adoption in 1997 has been a powerful tool for Chinese authorities seeking to criminalize freedom of expression in China. CHRD has documented dozens of cases of dissidents and free-speech activists persecuted under this law in recent years, including 2008 Sakharov Prize winner Hu Jia (胡佳), who is currently serving a sentence of 3 and 1/2 years in prison. For more information, please see CHRD's January 2008 report, "'Inciting Subversion of State Power': A Legal Tool for Prosecuting Free Speech in China."

In this case, the charge of "inciting subversion of state power" against Yuan hinged on four main accusations: first, that he distributed an article entitled "Save China, Implement Constitutional Democracy" to petitioners and representatives attending the National People's Congress in Beijing in 2005; second, that he gave interviews to the Epoch Times and other foreign media; third, that he received funds from domestic and overseas organizations; and finally, that he drafted over twenty articles "attacking" socialism. These actions provided the "evidence" necessary for authorities to punish Yuan, whose legal aid work in Jixi City since 1998 on behalf of farmers, miners, displaced persons, and other impoverished or exploited citizens earned him the ire of local government officials.

Additionally, though it was not mentioned in the charges or at his trial, it is believed that Yuan was also arrested in part for helping Yang Chunlin (杨春林), a Heilongjiang farmers' representative, collect signatures endorsing an open letter entitled "We Want Human Rights, Not the Olympics" in early 2008, ahead of the Beijing Games. Yang was also charged with "inciting subversion of state power", and sentenced to five years in prison on March 24, 2008. For more information, please see CHRD's press release "'Olympics Prisoner' Yang Chunlin Sentenced to Five Years in Prison."

"The use of 'inciting subversion' to persecute a local human rights activist is a stern warning to others who work at the grassroots providing legal assistance and organize workers! While Premier Wen Jiabao talked about opening up channels for the distressed to vent on the first day of the National People's Congress, authorities continued to suppress local activism with iron fists. This is a particularly volatile time both socially and politically, as 40-45 million migrant laborers have already lost or will lose their jobs this year and the urban unemployment rate may reach 10%," said Renee Xia.

CHRD demands the immediate release of Yuan Xianchen.

CHRD believes not only that Yuan has been punished simply for exercising his right to freedom of speech but that he was subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment while in detention. Yuan's right to freedom of speech is guaranteed by Article 35 of the Chinese Constitution, and his right to be protected against cruel and inhuman punishment is guaranteed by the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Background:

Yuan, 44, self-studied law and is best known for his work as a legal advisor to workers at the Didao Mine in Jixi City. The miners have been seeking compensation from the local government and the mine management since the former state-owned business was re-structured and became a private enterprise.

Yuan was taken into police custody in Beijing on May 24, 2008 and formally arrested on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power" on June 30.

Media contacts for this press release:

Renee Xia, International Director (English and Mandarin): +852 8191 6937

Wang Songlian, Research Coordinator and English Editor (English, Mandarin and Cantonese): +85281911660

Open Letter by the Tiananmen Mothers

Please Show Your Courage, Break the Taboo, Face "June 4" Head On

Open Letter by the Tiananmen Mothers
February 26, 2009

The Eleventh Session of the Second Plenary of the National People's Congress
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Honorary Deputies and Conference Members,

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the "June Fourth" Massacre.

In the last century, on June 4, 1989, the Chinese authorities launched a massacre against peaceful demonstrators and civilians in the capital, seriously violating our country's constitution and breaching their duty, as leaders of a sovereign state, to protect the people. This was an unconscionable atrocity that grew from a longstanding contempt for human rights and civil rights.

Over this long stretch of time, government authorities deliberately played down "June Fourth," forbade discussion among our people of "June Fourth," and prohibited the media from touching on "June Fourth." China has become like an airtight "iron chamber," and all the demands of the people about "June Fourth," all the anguish, lament, and moaning of the victims' relatives and the wounded of "June Fourth," have been sealed off from this "iron chamber." Today, as the deputies and committee members of these "Two Meetings" are stately seated in this assembly hall, can you hear the cry from “June Fourth"? Can you hear the painful sighs of the families of the victims of "June Fourth"? But now, the bloodstains of that time have long been washed away and the bullet marks rubbed out, and the site of the massacre is now decorated with exotic plants and flowers and has become a scene of peace and prosperity.

But can all this conceal the sins of that time? Can it erase the sorrow of the relatives of the victims that deepens year after year?

No! It absolutely cannot. The "June Fourth" massacre has long secured its place in history's hall of shame. It absolutely cannot be diminished as a "political disturbance" or even a "serious political disturbance." It was nothing short of an unconscionable atrocity. No amount of force can negate the bitter reality of the hundreds and thousands of lives snatched away by guns and tanks twenty years ago.

Twenty years are not a short time; they are enough for a whole new generation to emerge. This new generation never experienced the bloodshed of that time, nor has it ever felt the desolate calm that settled on a killing field. It has passed; it seems that everything has passed. "Play not the songs of former dynasties; listen instead to the new tune of the 'Willow Branch.'"* In these 20 years, generations of our country's leaders have succeeded the one before, from the second generation to the third, and then the fourth. You deputies and committee members of the "Two Meetings" have also changed from session to session. The passage of time and the shift of circumstances seem to have given the party and country leaders a kind of opportunity to minimize "June Fourth" and push it to a distant corner of history.

Even so, China's Tiananmen Mothers cannot consent. On the question of defining "June Fourth" we feel that we cannot afford to be the least bit vague. Whether to adhere to the initial interpretation or to change it, we must base it on facts and let the truth do the talking. If Deng Xiaoping, then Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, was wrong in "suppressing the counterrevolutionary rebellion," then we must overturn it and correct it through established legal procedures and publicly announce it to the whole society, and should not explain it away with the vague term of "political disturbances."

The Tiananmen Mothers have always held one belief, and that is: act and speak according to the facts; accept no lies. From the start of our inquiry activities, we would repeatedly check and verify our data regarding the person of interest. As of now, not a single one of the 194 dead that we have examined had any history of violence. They are all among the innocent victims of that massacre. They gave their lives for the sake of justice and all we can do is return justice to them, to pursue the justice that comes late to them. Otherwise, we would not be able to face the spirit of the dead.


Since 1995, our group of "June Fourth" victims and loved ones return here every year to write to the "Two Meetings" with three requests for officially acknowledging "June Fourth." They are: start new investigations on the "June Fourth" incident, publicly announce death tolls, release a list of the names of the dead; clarify each case to the family members of the dead and compensate them according to law; investigate "June Fourth" cases to determine those responsible and punish them. To summarize, our three requests are: "Truth, Compensation, Responsibility."

We have always upheld the principles of peace and reason. We appeal to the two committees and government authorities to utilize the methods of democracy and open dialogue to come to a just resolution. Yet our requests have not been discussed in the "Two Meetings."

In 2006, we suggested the following in order to end the stalemate over "June Fourth" and ensure that the situation can develop along a steady path: use the principle of tackling the simpler problems first. The divisive issues that cannot be resolved or agreed upon easily can be set aside temporarily. Instead, first solve the issues that involve the basic rights of the victims and their personal interests. These issues include: 1) remove all monitoring of and restrictions on the movements of “June Fourth” victims and their families; 2) allow families of the dead to openly mourn their loved ones; 3) stop intercepting and confiscating both domestic and international humanitarian aid contributions, and return all the aid money that was previously frozen; 4) relevant government departments should, in humanitarian spirit, help the victims who are facing hard times to find employment and guarantee them a basic livelihood, without any political conditions; 5) remove political biases against the disabled victims of "June Fourth" such that they are treated as all other disabled persons in regards to communal participation and treatment by society, etc.

In 2008, we again proposed to the deputies of the "Two Meetings": in the world today, dialogue has replaced confrontation. The Chinese government advocates using dialogue to resolve differences and conflicts on international issues. Thus we have an even stronger basis to ask that the government authorities resolve the internal differences and conflicts in the same way. If we are able to use dialogue to replace confrontation on the problem of "June Fourth," it would benefit the whole country and be a blessing for all our people. The more dialogue we have, the more civility and law and order, and the less ignorance and tyranny. Dialogue does not lead society towards opposition and hatred, but rather, towards tolerance and reconciliation. Using dialogue to solve the problem of "June Fourth" is an imperative path toward societal reconciliation.

Another year has passed now, yet we have heard nothing.


We note that President Hu Jintao said the following in public not long ago: In determining every single policy, we start and end with whether the people endorse it or not, agree with it or not, are happy with it or not, and consent to it or not. We welcome these words. If this is so, then we suggest to the National People's Congress and CPPCC: why not eliminate the taboo of "June Fourth" and conduct a broad survey of the people's attitudes towards "June Fourth" countrywide, especially in Beijing, to find out what exactly the people endorse? What they agree with? What they are happy with? Consent to? We believe this should not be difficult to do.

But the people of China know very well that the tragic case of "June Fourth" is an "ironclad case" created single-handedly by the second generation leader, Deng Xiaoping. As long as Deng Xiaoping enjoys any lingering prestige in our country from top to bottom and in future history, it would be an extremely formidable task to overturn the conclusion that has "already been decided on by the Party and government," and to discard the new "Whatever" policy.** Even if "suppressing the counterrevolutionary rebellion" is relabeled as a "serious political disturbance," the judgment, in essence, still has not changed.

This then will require each deputy to demonstrate extraordinary courage and resourcefulness, political courage and wisdom, to break the taboo and face head-on the unspeakable tragedy that took place 20 years ago and resolve "June Fourth" with the truth. If this should happen, you will have brought a great blessing upon our people and your achievement will go down in history.


* A quote from the first song in a collection of nine titled "Willow Branch" by Tang poet, Liu Yuxi.

** A reference to the "Two Whatevers" policy articulated by Hua Guofeng, who succeeded Mao Zedong as the chairman of the Communist Party of China upon Mao's death: "We will resolutely uphold whatever policy decisions Chairman Mao made, and unswervingly follow whatever instructions Chairman Mao gave."


Signed by:

丁子霖 Ding Zilin 张先玲 Zhang Xianling 周淑庄 Zhou Shuzhuang
李雪文 Li Xuewen 徐 珏 Xu Jue 尹 敏 Yin Min 杜东旭 Du Dongxu
宋秀玲 Song Xiuling 于 清 Yu Qing 郭丽英 Guo Liying 蒋培坤 Jiang Peikun
王范地 Wang Fandi 段宏炳 Duan Hongbing 袁可志 Yuan Kezhi
赵廷杰 Zhao Tingjie 吴定富 Wu Dingfu 钱普泰 Qian Putai
孙承康 Sun Chengkang 尤维洁 You Weijie 黄金平 Huang Jinping
贺田凤 He Tianfeng 孟淑英 Meng Shuying 袁淑敏 Yuan Shumin
刘梅花 Liu Meihua 谢京花 Xie Jinghua 马雪琴 Ma Xueqin
邝瑞荣 Kuang Ruirong 张艳秋 Zhang Yanqiu 张树森 Zhang Shulin
杨大榕 Yang Darong 刘秀臣 Liu Xiuchen 沈桂芳 Shen Guifang
谢京荣 Xie Jingrong 孙 宁 Sun Ning 王文华 Wang Wenhua
金贞玉 Jin Zhenyu 要福荣 Yao Furong 孟淑珍 Meng Shuzhen
田淑玲 Tian Shuling 邵秋风 Shao Qiufeng 王桂荣 Wang Guirong
谭汉凤 Tan Hanfeng 孙恒尧 Sun Hengyao 陈 梅 Chen Mei 周 燕 Zhou Yan
李桂英 Li Guiying 徐宝艳 Xu Baoyan 刘春林 Liu Chunlin 狄孟奇 Di Mengqi
杨银山 Yang Yinshan 管卫东 Guan Weidong 高 婕 Gao Jie 索秀女 Suo Xiunv
刘淑琴 Liu Shuqin 王培靖 Wang Peijing 王双兰 Wang Shuanglan
张振霞 Zhang Zhenxia 祝枝弟 Zhu Zhidi 刘天媛 Liu Tianyuan
潘木治 Pan Muzhi 黄定英 Huang Dingying 何瑞田 He Ruitian
程淑珍 Cheng Shuzhen 张耀祖 Zhang Yaosu 轧伟林 Ya Weilin
郝义传 Hao Yichuan 萧昌宜 Xiao Changyi 任金宝 Ren Jinbao
田维炎 Tian Weiyan 杨志玉 Yang Zhiyu 齐国香 Qi Guoxiang
李显远 Li Xianyuan 张彩凤 Zhang Caifeng 王玉芹 Wang Yuqin
韩淑香 Han Shuxiang 曹长先 Cao Changxian 方 政 Fang Zheng
齐志勇 Qi Zhiyong 冯友祥 Feng Youxiang 何兴才 He Xingcai
刘仁安 Liu Renan 李淑娟 Li Shujuan 熊 辉 Xiong Hui 韩国刚 Han Guogang
石 峰 Shi Feng 庞梅清 Pang Meiqing 黄 宁 Huang Ning
王伯冬 Wang Bodong 张志强 Zhang Zhiqiang 赵金锁 Zhao Jinsuo
孔维真 Kong Weizhen 刘保东 Liu Baodong 陆玉宝 Lu Yubao
陆马生 Lu Masheng 齐志英 Qi Zhiying 方桂珍 Fang Guizhen
肖书兰 Xiao Shulan 葛桂荣 Ge Guirong 郑秀村 Zheng Qiuchun
王惠蓉 Wang Huirong 邢承礼 Xing Chengli 桂德兰 Gui Delan
王运启 Wang Yunqi 黄雪芬 Huang Xuefen 王 琳 Wang Lin
刘 乾 Liu Qian 朱镜蓉 Zhu Jingrong 金亚喜 Jin Yaxi 周国林 Zhou Guolin
杨子明 Yang Ziming 王争强 Wang Zhengqiang 吴立虹 Wu Lihong
宁书平 Ning Shuping 郭达显 Guo Daxian 曹云兰 Cao Yunlan
隋立松 Shui Lisong 王广明 Wang Guangming 冯淑兰 Feng Shulan
穆怀兰 Mu Huailan 付媛媛 Fu Yuanyuan 孙淑芳 Sun Shufang
刘建兰 Liu Jianlan 王 连 Wang Lian 李春山 Li Chunshan
蒋艳琴 Jiang Yanqin 何凤亭 He Fengting 谭淑琴 Tan Shuqin
(127 names)


In accordance with suggestions by our friends, we're also including the following names of our fellow signers from previous years who have passed away as to respect their wishes.

吴学汉 Wu Xuehan 苏冰娴 Su Bingxian 姚瑞生 Yao Ruisheng
杨世鈺 Yang Shiyu 袁长录 Yuan Changlu 周淑珍 Zhou Shuzhen
王国先 Wang Guoxian 包玉田 Bao Yutian 林景培 Lin Jingpei
寇玉生 Kou Yusheng 孟金秀 Meng Jinxiu 张俊生 Zhang Junsheng
吴守琴 Wu Shouqin 周治刚 Zhou Zhigang 孙秀芝 Sun Xiuzhi
罗 让 Luo Rang 严光汉 Yan Guanghan 李贞英 Li Zhenying
邝涤清 Kuang Diqing (19 names)

This translation is taken from http://sfchoi.wordpress.com

China Human Rights Briefing January II Edition

2009-2-3 2:20:01

http://crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200902/20090203022001_13408.html

China Human Rights Briefing
Reporting human rights development from the grassroots
January 15-31, 2009

1. Persecution of Rights Activists

Charter 08 Update

· On January 16, 2009, administrators at Beijing University Law School sent out an email to students, demanding that they "firmly resist and stay far away from" Charter 08, and that they "don't follow others blindly or… spread harmful information." This email comes despite the fact that Beijing University law professor He Weifang (贺卫方) and Zhu Suren (朱苏人), the elder brother of Beijing University law school dean Zhu Suli (朱苏力), have already signed the Charter. (CHRD)

· Despite continued harassment and intimidation from police and local authorities, Support for Charter 08 continues to grow, with over 8,100 signatories at last count.

· Authorities continue to use Charter 08 as a pretext to intimidate activists and dissidents domestically. Human Rights Lawyer Li Xiongbing (黎雄兵), previously questioned by police about his involvement with Charter 08, was summoned (chuanhan) by police in the pre-dawn hours of January 15 and interrogated about the Charter for more than three hours. (CHRD)

Beijing Blogger Placed under House Arrest

On the eve of Chinese New Year's, January 25, several policemen from the National Security Unit of the Beijing PSB Chaoyang District Sub-division summoned Beijing activist Liu Di (刘荻, who writes under the name "stainless steel rat", buxiugang laoshu) to interrogate her about a posting she had written entitled "10 suggestions for Charter 08" on the "Free China Forum" as well as a picture she posted of a t-shirt featuring Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波) and other related figures from Charter 08. At the conclusion of the interrogation, the policemen announced that she was being placed under residential surveillance. The next day Liu discovered a police car parked downstairs from her apartment and her freedom to leave her home restricted. She now must travel by police car or in a taxi arranged by police, if she is given permission to leave. (CHRD)

Activist Promoting Democracy at Grassroots Abducted by Authorities

Yao Lifa (姚立法), an activist promoting local democratic elections from Qianjiang City, Hubei Province, disappeared on January 18, 2009. Yao had been scheduled to return to Hubei on January 19 to attend the celebration of the inauguration of the US president at the US Consulate in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. After three days without contact, Yao was released on January 21, 2009, at which point he confirmed that he had been abducted by the Qianjiang police. Yao has suffered illegal kidnappings and detention at the hands of Qianjiang authorities on a number of previous occasions. (CHRD)

Released Tiananmen Prisoner Incarcerated in Psychiatric Hospital since Olympics

CHRD learned on January 22, 2009, that Wang Lianxi (王连喜), a former worker who was released from prison in 2007 following 18 years of incarceration for his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, was being incarcerated at a Beijing mental institution. Wang, believed to be hospitalized involuntarily, was detained ahead of the Olympics to prevent him from "making trouble" during the Games. CHRD has not found any evidence suggesting that Wang or his family consented to the hospitalization or that any independent mental health evaluation was conducted to determine whether Wang's mental condition was serious enough to pose any real danger to society such that he needed to be hospitalized. (CHRD)

Wife of Imprisoned Activist Placed under Surveillance, Detained

CHRD learned from imprisoned Hebei activist Guo Qizhen (郭起真) that his wife, Zhao Changqin (赵长芹) has been harassed by local police since the beginning of August, 2008, when she was placed under residential surveillance and followed whenever she left the house. Zhao was then illegally detained, first in a number of "black jails" in Cangzhou City, Hebei, and later in a local military dormitory. Zhao was finally released from detention on September 23, but remains under surveillance to this day, especially with regard to her communications, which are monitored and often disrupted. Guo, who was imprisoned in October of 2006 for "inciting subversion of state power," also reports that his health in prison is very poor, and that he suffers from necrosis of the femur, needing crutches to walk and large amounts of medicine which must be brought in by Zhao when she visits him. (CRLW)

Imprisoned China Democratic Party Member Denied Parole

CHRD learned on January 31, 2009, that Wu Yilong (吴义龙), activist and organizer for the China Democratic Party (CDP) and spokesperson for the CDP's Zhejiang Provincial Preparatory Committee, has been denied parole for refusing to admit guilt to prison officials. Wu was sentenced to 11 years in prison in October of 1999 for "subversion of state power" for his role as a CDP member, and was originally eligible for release in November of 2008. According to Wu's brother, Wu Yiyun (吴义云), Wu Yilong will likely have to serve his full term in prison, as he steadfastly refuses to admit guilt for a crime he did not commit. (CHRD)

Activist Detained in Forced Labor Camp Nears Release

Heilongjiang petitioner turned human rights activist Liu Jie (刘杰), who has been tortured repeatedly while detained in Re-education through Labor (RTL) camps, is scheduled to be released on April 12, 2009, according to her son, Fu Weifeng (傅伟丰). Fu, who visited his mother on January 22 and received a phone call from her on January 29, reports that concerns about his mother's health, especially her vision, which has been significantly damaged during her detention, remain serious. (CHRD)

2. Right to Vote

Beijing Lawyers Press on in Quest for Direct Elections

During the Beijing Lawyers Association Film Festival, held from January 13th to January 18th at the National Library and attended by an estimated 30% of Beijing's lawyers, a group of 35 Beijing lawyers defied official pressure and distributed information about direct elections for officials of the Lawyers Association. This comes on the heels of the same group's petition, written in late 2008, calling for direct elections of officers of the Association, an act that cost at least seven lawyers their jobs. Some, like lawyer Yang Huiwen (杨慧文), announced their candidacies for various offices and handed out articles summarizing their positions on various questions. Official response remains to be seen. (CHRD)

3. Freedom of Association

Shandong Authorities Detain Teachers' Representatives before Chinese New Year

On December 29, 2008, four representatives of "community-run school" (minban xuexiao) teachers from Shandong traveled to Beijing to submit an application to stage a demonstration on January 12, 2009, in Jinan City, Shandong Province. The request was verbally rejected (without a written reply), and two of the representatives, Chen Zengfu (陈增夫, also known as Chen Ming [陈明]) and Wang Diangang (王殿冈) were later detained by Shandong authorities on the charges of "disrupting social order". Chen, detained on January 14, and Wang, detained on the 22, have yet to be released. Others involved in the case believe that Chen and Wang are being punished for petitioning along with thousands of other community-run school teachers during the Shandong Provincial Party Meeting on November 26, 2008. (CRLW)

Wuhan Resident Arbitrarily Detained for "Plotting to Demonstrate"

Wuhan citizen Xiao Changhai (肖昌海), a representative of activists whose property was expropriated by the state in earlier periods and are now disputing ownership with the government, was seized on December 16, 2008 in Yichang City, Hubei Province, by members of the National Security Unit of the Wuhan City PSB and forcibly taken to a "law education class" in the Wuchang District, Wuhan City, where he was detained for more than one month. On January 18, 2009, Xiao was moved to the Wuchang Detention Center, where he was administratively detained for five days. His family, who never received any formal written notice of his detention, was told by police that he was detained for "plotting to travel to Beijing to apply to demonstrate along with Wuhan petitioners Zhang Jianmin (张建民) and Zhou Xinbao (周新宝)." (CRLW)

4. Harassment and Abuse of Petitioners

Hubei Petitioner Disappears in Beijing, Feared Detained

On January 19, 2009, Li Dejie (李德接), from Shashi District, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province , travelled to the National Letters and Visits Office in Beijing to petition, and has not been heard from since. In 2001, she and her family were forcibly evicted from their home in Jingzhou by local courts acting in collusion with developers. Li was previously detained incommunicado by local authorities for 88 days during the 2008 Olympics, during which time no one, including her family, had any knowledge of her whereabouts. (CHRD)

Shanghai Petitioner Summoned, Beaten for Seeking Aid

On January 23, 2009, Fan Shiming (范诗铭) of Shanghai, was summoned (chuanhan) by police from Shanghai's Wuliqiao PSB Station, where, upon arrival, he was bound and beaten for more than three hours. On January 22, Fan had visited the Wuliqiao Police Station to seek humanitarian aid and demand authorities pay for his mother's hospitalization for gall bladder inflammation in late 2008, which was triggered by the stress of protracted surveillance by police during the Olympic Games. Fan was ignored by section chief Huang Chongmu (黄崇慕) and barred from meeting with other officials, at which point he left the station angrily after writing a series of messages on the wall of a stairway. Fan has been detained, beaten, and placed under surveillance on numerous occasions by local authorities for petitioning the government about the illegal destruction of his bicycle repair shop on July 31, 2005, by local police and developers. (CHRD)

5. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment

Factory Workers Beaten For Requesting Salaries

Shortly after learning of the impending bankruptcy of their employer on January 15, 2009, workers at the Dongwanhumenlu (东莞虎门露) Silk Clothing Manufacturing Plant in Guangdong Province approached factory officials to beg for back wages due to them. The officials, claiming that the factory was already bankrupt, refused to pay and workers and demanded that the workers leave the factory grounds. The workers refused, and that evening, between 40 and 50 local policemen, along with between 20 and 30 hired thugs, arrived at the factory and attacked the between 60 and 70 workers who remained on site. Three workers were treated at a nearby hospital for injuries sustained in the attack and released the next day. (CRLW)

Tianjin Citizen Beaten for Attempting to Register to Petition

On January 12, 2009, petitioner Xu Zhen(徐珍) from Hedong District, Tianjin City, arrived at the Letters and Visits Office outside the venue for the Tianjin "Two Meetings" (People's Congress and People's Political Consultative Conference) and submitted her petition. She was pulled aside by an employee of the Hedong District Construction Committee, and while the latter questioned Xu why she came to petition again, the Hedong District PSB Letters and Visits Office Director Xu ([许], no relation) suddenly appeared and struck her from behind. Director Xu continued to strike Xu Zhen while threatening her, saying "if you come again, I'll beat you to death!" Xu Zhen went to a local hospital where she was treated for injuries to her arms and head. (CRLW)

6. Freedom of Expression

Writer Sues Sina.com over the Closure of Blog

Wang Zhaojun (汪兆钧), an entrepreneur and member of the Standing Committee of the Anhui Provincial People's Political Consultative Committee, had his blog shut down by Chinese web portal Sina.com after he posted an article entitled "A Report on The People of China, 2009- The Year Chinese Society Began to Change." After consulting with lawyers, Tang Jitian (唐吉田) and Lan Zhixue (兰志学), Wang went to the Supreme People's Court in Beijing on January 19, 2009 to file a lawsuit challenging this infringement of his right to freedom of expression. According to regulations, the Court has seven days to decide whether or not to hear the case. (CHRD)

7. Citizens Action

Chinese Scholars Call for a Boycott of CCTV "Brainwashing"

On January 12, 2009, 22 Chinese scholars and lawyers published an open letter online calling for a boycott of CCTV's "brainwashing." Called "Boycott CCTV, Reject Brainwashing," the letter protested the monopolization of information dissemination and news broadcasting by the state-run TV station, and listed seven major problems, including: releasing propaganda claiming the Sanlu milk powder had passed 1100 quality tests while the scandal was unfolding, selectively reporting on social contradictions and incidents during China's transformative era, and not reporting breaking news or mass incidents, or watering down coverage of such events. (CHRD)

Fujian Farmers File Lawsuit against State Council

On January 13, 2009, Huang Weizhong (黄维忠), representative of 3000 farmers from Putian County, Fujian, travelled to the Supreme Peoples' Court in Beijing to file a lawsuit against the State Council. According to Huang, the lawsuit on behalf of the farmers sought to redress years of mistreatment at the hands of local authorities without oversight from the State Council. Previous attempts by farmers to petition the government had come to nothing, and often resulted in persecution against petitioners. Huang previously filed suit on behalf of the farmers with the Beijing Higher Court, which did not respond to his December 2008 lawsuit within the allotted seven days. Huang, who has worked for years to defend the rights of farmers who have lost their land, has been harassed and imprisoned in the past for his activism. (CHRD)

8. Law and Policy Watch

Officials Issue Standards to Regulate "Vulgar Content" on Internet

On January 9, 2009, government departments, including the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and others, jointly issued a set of thirteen regulations designed to target "vulgar content" on the internet. The regulations, while principally concerned with pornographic or explicit content, also contain regulations purporting to protect individuals' rights to privacy. However, in the wake of the closing of popular Chinese blog portal bullog.cn and similar sites earlier this month, netizens and activists fear that the new regulations are simply a pretext for cracking down on open spaces for free expression online.

Xuzhou City Enacts Personal Information Privacy Legislation

According to a January 20, 2009 Legal Daily report, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, became the first city to enact legislation preventing the arbitrary dissemination of others' personal information. The "Xuzhou City Computer Information System Security Protection Guidelines", passed a few days ago by the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, will go into effect on June 1. The regulation will provide management for computer security, measures to safeguard information, outline legal responsibility of companies and individuals, and provide detailed guidelines for implementation. This legislation was created in part to address the phenomenon of the "human flesh search engine" (renrou sousuo, 人肉搜索) the combined efforts of netizens to track down personal information about individuals in the real world and online. According to these new regulations, providing personal information using this method would be an illegal violation of an individual's privacy. The maximum fine for netizens who provide or spread personal information is set at 5000 RMB (roughly 730 USD), and netizens may be banned from internet use for up to half a year. Companies found to be in violation of the regulations risk having their management licenses revoked or losing their network privileges.

As with the regulations on "vulgar content," the true impact of these regulations remains to be seen. While on the surface the guidelines offer a guarantee of protection for individuals' rights, they may just as easily be used to shield official malfeasance or restrict the free flow of information among citizens. (Legal Daily)

Chongqing Testing Death Row Visitation Regulations

According to a January 16, 2009 Xinhua report, the Chongqing Municipal Higher People's Court, Municipal Procuratorate, Public Security Bureau, and Municipal Bureau of Justice jointly announced the trial of newly drafted "Regulations Concerning Family Visits for Death Row Inmates". According to the regulations, inmates on death row in Chongqing and their families will now be able to apply for visits, and have these applications examined by courts, which will be in charge of arranging the visits. Chongqing joins Xian City, Beijing, Qingdao City, Jiangsu Province, Xiamen City, Guangzhou City, and Shantou City in allowing visitation rights for death row inmates. (Xinhua)

State Council Passes 850 Billion Yuan Medical Reform Plan

In a step towards providing universal health care for all Chinese citizens, China's State Council announced on January 21st the passing of a reform plan pledging 850 billion RMB (123 billion USD) towards medical reform by the year 2011. The plan, which had been in deliberations since 2006, seeks to address mounting public criticism of exorbitant medical fees, lack of access to services in rural areas, and low medical insurance rates. The plan pledges to cover 90% of all citizens by basic medical insurance or a new rural co-operative medical system by 2011, as well as providing an increase in the annual medical subsidy received by citizens. Particular attention is set to be paid to rural areas, whose health care facilities lag far behind their urban counterparts. How officials will implement this plan remains to be seen. (Xinhua)

Editors: Wang Songlian and David Smalls

Chinese Who Could not Enjoy This Chinese New Year

It is already the lunar New Year Day in China. Presumably, more than a billion people have managed some kind of New Year Eve, in the past 24 hours. The majority did so with their family members - this has been the foremost important family reunion annual festival in China for centuries. However, some people have not been able to spent the day as they and their beloved ones have wishes.

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Hu Jia, the human rights activist, 2008 winner of the European Saharov Prize for Freedom of Speech, is held in prison, charged for "subsersion of state power" because of his online writings. He has severe liver illness that requires constant care and the prison has not provided him adequate medical care. His health has been deteriorating.

His wife, Zeng Jinyan, herself actively involved in human rights and civil rights activities, had wished to see him in a long-planned prison visit. She carefully chose a red colored jacket to cheer him up. However, at last minute, she was notified by the State Security Police that her prison visit permission had been revoked. Only Hu Jia's mother was allowed to visit him. He was said visibly disappointed at missing the opportunity to greet his wife for the Chinese New Year.

If you can read Chinese, please visit Zeng Jinyan's blog and learn more about the heroic couple. Their daughter has just had her first birthday in November. Since her born, she has spent only a few weeks with her father.

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Chen Guangchen, the blind legal activist and winner of the 2007 Prize, is, too, staying behind the bar, for his actions to help poor peasants in his home town. He is blind and constantly in need of both medical care and routine help in his daily life. Instead of providing necessary facilities to Chen, prison guards have frequently abused him physically and mentally.

Chen's wife, Yuan Weijing, has received constant abuses at home, too. She is not allowed to travel, followed by police and local thugs whenever she goes out. The couple's two young children have been harassed repeatedly as well.

In the past years, Hu Jia's wife Zeng Jinyan and Chen Guangcheng's wife Yuan Weijing have formed very strong bond to support each other. However, with each of the women being confined to their home locale at the moment, their mutual support is constrained severely. We learn about Yuan Weijing mainly from Zeng Jinyan's blog.

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Liu Xiaobo, arguably the most well-known Chinese dissident in the past ten years, has been in and out of China's prison system - including formal prison and the notorious "reeducation through labor" (lao jiao) system - for many times since June 1989. He is under house arrest at the moment.

In early December 2008, Liu joined 300 others in China to issue the political campaign, Charter 08. The charter was formally released online on the 60th anniversary of the World Human Rights Day, December 10, 2008. Hours earlier, Liu was already taken away by secret police for his role in organizing the charter. It was not until days later that his wife, Liu Xia, was allowed to see him in an undisclosed location outside Beijing.

Since then, it has been understood that the Lius are under house arrest. The authorities censored all information, online or via other media, about Charter 08 and about Liu Xiaobo. He has not been allowed to get back to his normal way of contacting the outside world - by the Internet.

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There are many others inside China who, due to political persecution, cannot reunited with their beloved ones for this Chinese New Year.

Let us send our warmest greetings to all of them. Remembering them, praying in your own chosen manner for them, joining hands together to support them.

Today is the New Year Day of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is the beginning of the year of Ox.