China Human Rights Briefing December 14-21, 2010
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December 14-21, 2010
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Highlights
- Unidentified Group Attacks Lawyer Zhang Kai on Beijing Road: Beijing human rights lawyer Zhang Kai (张凯) was driving on Beijing’s Third Ring Road the night of December 14 when he was run off the road by three cars filled with unidentified men. The men surrounded Zhang’s car and attempted to drag him from the vehicle, but he was able to drive to safety.
- Little Information Available after Inner Mongolian Activist Hada’s Release: While a picture was circulated online purporting to show Inner Mongolian scholar and dissident Hada reunited with his wife and son after completing his 15-year prison sentence, little concrete information regarding his, or his family’s, whereabouts has been available in recent days. CHRD has so far been unable to contact Hada, his wife Xinna, or his son Uiles, and cannot independently confirm any news related to his release from prison.
- Charter 08 Collects 12,000th Signature as Second Anniversary Passes: On December 9, the two-year anniversary of the release of Charter 08, organizers announced they had compiled the names of the 24th group of signatories to the charter. The 427 signatories of the group brought the total number of signatories to 12,160.
Contents
Updates on Nobel-Related Harassment of Activists
Harassment of Activists
- Lawyer Zhang Kai Attacked while Driving in Beijing
- Cell Phone Service Interrupted for Beijing-based Activists
Freedom of Religion
- House Church Organizer Fan Yafeng Detained Nine Days, Released to Soft Detention
Arbitrary Detention
- Shanghai Petitioner, Seized at Expo, Loses RTL Appeal
- Guangxi Forced Evictee Sent Back to RTL 40 Days after Release
- Police in Wuhan Pressure Family of Detained Activist Li Tie to Drop Lawyer
- Questions Surround Release of Inner Mongolian Activist Hada
- Police in Wuhan Bar Lawyer Access to Detained Activist Li Tie
- Democracy and Labor Activist Ning Xianhua Released after Seven Years in Prison
- Hubei Petitioner, Seized in Beijing on Human Rights Day, Remains in Detention
Freedom of Assembly
- Fujian Activists Threatened and Followed after Submitting Protest Application
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
- Hunan Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison on Basis of Confession Extracted by Torture
Citizens’ Actions
- Charter 08 Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary, Reaches 12,160 Signatures
- Send a Birthday Card to 2010 Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo
Updates on Nobel-Related Harassment of Activists
Police have begun easing the pressure on some activists following the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony, making those cases in which activists have not been released increasingly worrying. CHRD is currently collecting reports of individuals who have regained their freedom of movement, as well as those facing continued restrictions.
- On the afternoon of December 18, Beijing human rights activist Wang Lihong (王荔蕻) returned home following 18 days of “forced travel.” However, police told Wang that, now that she was home, she was not permitted to leave her home except in the company of police. Officers are standing guard outside of her apartment building 24 hours a day.[i]
- On December 20, human rights lawyer Zhang Jiankang (张鉴康) returned to Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province following 12 days of “forced travel.”[ii]
- Beijing democracy and human rights activist Li Hai (李海) was allowed to return home on the evening of December 15 after 46 days of soft detention. After he was seized on October 30, Li was held in an underground room in Beijing’s Chaoyang District for 16 days before being transferred to a guesthouse near Zuojiazhuang, also in Chaoyang District.[iii]
- As of December 17, CHRD has no updates regarding the case of Shen Minqiang (沈民强), who was criminally detained on October 8 for speaking out about Liu Xiaobo’s Nobel Prize, accepting media interviews, and giving out his calling card outside of Liu’s home. Since human rights lawyer Teng Biao (滕彪) reported Shen’s detention on November 9, activists affiliated with CHRD have been unsuccessful in obtaining more detailed information despite numerous attempts.[iv]
- Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province-based activist Yang Hai (杨海) was finally allowed to return home from “forced travel” on December 17.
- On December 13 and 14, 11 Guizhou human rights defenders and members of the Guizhou Human Rights Forum—including Huang Yanming (黄燕明), Li Renke (李任科), Wang Zang (王藏), Shen Youlian (申有连), Du Heping (杜和平), Mo Jiangang (莫建刚), Zhang Zhongfa (张重发), Lu Yongxiang (卢永祥), Xu Guoqing (徐国庆), Chen Xi (陈西), and Zeng Ning (曾宁)—returned home from “forced travel” or soft detention. However, as of December 14, two—Liao Shuangyuan (廖双元), and Wu Yuqin (吴玉琴)—were still missing.[v]
Harassment of Activists
Lawyer Zhang Kai Attacked while Driving in Beijing
Around 11 pm on December 14, Beijing human rights lawyer Zhang Kai (张凯) was driving near Jimenqiao on Beijing’s Third Ring Road when his car was suddenly forced to the side by three unidentified, license plate-less vehicles. A group of more than ten men emerged from the vehicles and began smashing Zhang’s car windows and trying to pull him out of the car. Zhang accelerated through the group and managed to drive to safety, stopping at a police station near Chang’an Avenue to report the incident. Zhang believes that the attackers were targeting him, though there was another lawyer with him in the car. He does not know the motivation for the attack, but said that all of the cases he has handled recently have been fairly sensitive. (CHRD)[vi]
Cell Phone Service Interrupted for Beijing-based Activists
On the afternoon of December 20, a number of Beijing-based activists discovered that their cell phone services had again been restricted: while they could place outgoing calls, they were unable to receive incoming calls. Activists Ai Weiwei (艾未未), Mo Zhixu (莫之许), Xu Zhiyong (许志永), Jia Jia (贾葭), and Liu Di (刘荻) all reported the disruption in service. Many of these individuals had their calls similarly restricted during the days surrounding the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony on December 10. Some had service restored later that evening, while others could not be contacted as of the evening of December 20. (CHRD)[vii]
Freedom of Religion
House Church Organizer Fan Yafeng Detained Nine Days, Released to Soft Detention
Beijing human rights activist and Christian house church organizer Fan Yafeng (范亚峰) was detained by police in Beijing between December 9 and December 18 after being summoned for questioning. Fan was released on December 18, but was then placed under “soft detention” at his home. A group of activists and lawyers attempted to visit him on the evening of the 18th, but were blocked by police officers, who took four of them in for questioning as a result. His wife, Wu Lingling (吴玲玲), was also summoned for questioning on December 12, and is currently under “soft detention” as well. The church with which Fan is affiliated, Shengshan Research Institute, was searched by police on the 12th, and officers confiscated computers, cell phones, video cameras, bankbooks, bank cards, and nearly 20,000 RMB in cash, among other items. Reportedly, police interrogating Wu focused on a magazine published by the Shengshan Research Institute. (CHRD)[viii]
Arbitrary Detention
Shanghai Petitioner, Seized at Expo, Loses RTL Appeal
CHRD learned on December 17 that Shanghai petitioner Sun Jun (孙军), who was sent to Re-education through Labor on May 29, 2010 for “disrupting social order,” has lost his administrative litigation lawsuit challenging the decision. Sun was seized by police in Shanghai on May 1 after scattering petitioning documents outside of the China pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, and sent to one year of RTL later that month by the Shanghai RTL Committee. He is currently detained at the Dafeng RTL Camp in Jiangsu Province. Sun’s family reports that Sun has been cut off from contacting the outside world since being detained in the RTL camp. (CHRD)[ix]
Guangxi Forced Evictee Sent Back to RTL 40 Days after Release
On December 19, CHRD learned of the case of petitioner Wei Yani (韦亚妮), a 38-year old woman from Tiane County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, who was sent to Re-education through Labor (RTL) on July 24 of this year for the second time since 2008. Wei was released from her previous detention in RTL on June 13, 2010. On both occasions, Wei was sent to two years of RTL for petitioning in Beijing; the first RTL decision stated that Wei had “disrupted social order,” while the second time she was detained for “disrupting social and public order.” Wei and other villagers from her hometown have been petitioning after their farmland was flooded by the reservoir created by the Longtan hydroelectric dam and they were not provided with adequate compensation. She is currently detained in the Guangxi Women’s RTL Camp. (CHRD)[x]
Police in Wuhan Pressure Family of Detained Activist Li Tie to Drop Lawyer
CHRD learned on December 20 that National Security officers in Wuhan City, Hubei Province have contacted the family of detained democracy activist Li Tie (李铁) and demanded that the family change lawyers in Li’s case. The family retained Beijing lawyer Jin Guanghong (金光鸿) to represent Li, currently detained on suspicion of “subversion of state power.” Officials are now pressuring the family to drop Jin for a lawyer chosen by the police. Wuhan police have so far barred Jin from meeting with Li on the grounds that Li’s case “involves state secrets.” (CHRD)[xi]
Questions Surround Release of Inner Mongolian Activist Hada
December 10 was the final day of Inner Mongolian scholar and dissident Hada’s 15-year prison sentence; however, whether he was actually released, his and his family’s current whereabouts, and restrictions they may be facing on their movements, has been impossible to come by in recent days. Hada’s wife Xinna was taken into police custody on December 3, while her and Hada’s son Uiles has been missing since speaking to the media about his mother’s situation on December 5. On December 10, a photograph showing Hada, Xinna, and Uiles sitting together was circulated on the internet, and a Boxun report stated that Hada’s relatives had received a text message allegedly written by him, stating that all was well. However, CHRD has been unable to contact Hada, Xinna, or Uiles, and cannot independently confirm any news related to his release from prison. (CHRD)[xii]
Police in Wuhan Bar Lawyer Access to Detained Activist Li Tie
CHRD learned on December 14 that police in Wuhan City, Hubei Provice have barred lawyer Jin Guanghong (金光鸿) access to activist Li Tie (李铁), who is currently detained on suspicion of “subversion of state power.” Police reportedly told Li’s lawyer that the case “involves state secrets.” CHRD has also learned that, according to Li’s family, police have told them that the “subversion” charges are based on Li’s alleged membership in an organization based in England. However, the police did not reveal any other details regarding this organization. Officials in Wuhan approved Li’s arrest in November following his criminal detention on September 15. In recent years, Li has written extensively about democracy and constitutional government in online articles, and has organized activities to honor the memory of Lin Zhao (林昭) annually since 2008. (CHRD)[xiii]
Democracy and Labor Activist Ning Xianhua Released after Seven Years in Prison
On December 15, labor activist and China Democracy Party organizer Ning Xianhua (宁先华) was released from Jinzhou Prison, Liaoning Province after serving seven years in prison. He is currently at home with family in Shenyang City, Liaoning. Ning was taken into detention in 2003 for his role as an organizer for a labor union and the banned China Democracy Party in Liaoning. He was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison, but had his term shortened to seven years on appeal. Ning’s co-defendant in the case, Kong Youping (孔佑平), is serving a 10-year sentence in a prison in Liaoning. (CHRD)[xiv]
Hubei Petitioner, Seized in Beijing on Human Rights Day, Remains in Detention
On December 10, Wu Lijuan (伍立娟), a petitioner from Qianjiang City, Hubei Province, was seized near Beijing’s South Train Station and taken to Jiujingzhuang, a central black jail. She was then transferred to the Beijing Liaison Office of the Qianjiang City government, which has kept her under detention at their offices. Wu, former employee of the Hubei provincial branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), has been petitioning for the last few years after she was involved in labor disputes regarding pay with the ICBC. She has also actively participated in protests organized by workers of other financial institutions. (CHRD)[xv]
Freedom of Assembly
Fujian Activists Threatened and Followed after Submitting Protest Application
A group of 17 Fujian-based activists have been placed under tight surveillance and restriction of movement, and some threatened with Re-education through Labor, after the group submitted an application to hold a demonstration in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, timed to coincide with the Asian Para Games between December 12 and 20. According to one of the activists, they submitted their application to demonstrate against Fujian officials’ crackdown on activists and petitioners to the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau on December 7. The group never received an official response, but instead have been harassed by Fujian police and followed when leaving their homes. (CHRD)[xvi]
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Hunan Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison on Basis of Confession Extracted by Torture
On December 20, CHRD learned of the case of Hunan Province resident He Wenwei (何文伟), who is currently serving a 10-year sentence for robbery in Hunan’s Yongzhou Prison. He stated in a letter that he was convicted and sentenced to prison on the basis of a confession extracted by torture: he was seized off the street on February 21, 2008 by plainclothes police officers while out getting his vehicle repaired with a friend. He was taken to Shigu police station in Hengyang City, where, over the course of the next 76 hours, he was repeatedly slapped, kicked and beaten, handcuffed in various painful positions, burned with a cigarette lighter, and not permitted to eat, drink, or sleep. Following this torture he was forced to sign a confession, at which point he was transferred to the Hengyang Number One Detention Center. He was denied access to a lawyer for three months before he was tried and convicted later that year by the Henyang City Intermediate People’s Court, and his sentence was upheld by the Henan Province High People’s Court in 2009 following an appeal. CHRD also learned on December 20 that officials at Yongzhou Prison called He’s family to inform them that He is “seriously ill;” however, further details regarding his condition are not currently available. (CHRD)[xvii]
Citizens’ Actions
Charter 08 Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary, Reaches 12,160 Signatures
On December 9, the two-year anniversary of the release of Charter 08, organizers announced they had compiled the names of the 24th group of signatories to the charter. The 427 signatories of the group brought the total number of signatories to 12,160.
Send a Birthday Card to 2010 Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo
December 28 is imprisoned Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo’s (刘晓波) birthday. To send him a birthday, card, please use the following address:
To: Liu Xiaobo
Jinzhou Prison
86 Nanshanli, Taihe District, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
Postal Code: 121013
刘晓波先生 收
辽宁锦州监狱
辽宁省锦州市太和区南山里86号
邮政编码：121013
Editors: David Smalls and Lin Sang
Follow us on Twitter: @CHRDnet
[i] “Prominent Human Rights Activist Wang Lihong Returns Home after 18 Days of ‘Forced Travel'” (著名维权人士 王荔蕻被旅游18天后回到家中), December 18, 2010, http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012181520.shtml
[ii] “Human Rights Lawyer Zhang Jiankang Returns to Xi’an Following ‘Forced Travel'” (维权律师张鉴康“被旅游”后回 到西安), December 20, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012201519.shtml
[iii] “Beijing Democracy Activist Li Hai Under Illegal Soft Detention for 46 Days” (北京民主维权人士李海 被非法软禁46天), December 16, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012161527.shtml
[iv] “Citizen Shen Minqiang Still Detained for Distributing Information Regarding Liu Xioabo’s Nobel Prize” (公民沈民强宣传刘晓波获奖被拘留至今无音讯), December 17, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012172344.shtml
[v] “Ten Guizhou Human Rights Defenders Return Home, Three Still Forced to Travel” (贵州10位分人权捍卫者回到家中，三人仍在被旅 游), December 14, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012140144.shtml; “Guizhou Human Rights Activist Chen Xi Returns Home; Internet and Telephone Cut” (贵州维权人士陈西已经回家 网络和电话被切断), December 14, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012141225.shtml
[vi] “Human Rights Lawyer Zhang Kai Pursued by More than 10 Unidentified Men in the Middle of the Night” (维权律师张凯半夜遭遇十多名不明身份人士追杀), December 15, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012150128.shtml
[vii] “Many Beijing Activists’ Cell Phones Cut Off” (北京多位维权人士的手机又被单项停机), December 20, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012201837.shtml
[viii] “Five Days after Summons, Fan Yafeng Yet to Return Home; Church Searched, Wife also Summoned” (范亚峰被传唤走后五天未回，教会被抄、妻子也遭传唤), December 14, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012141554.shtml and “Four Human Rights Activists Taken Away by Police for Attempting to Visit Fan Yafeng” (探望范亚峰的4名维权人士被警方带走), December 18, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012182330.shtml
[ix] “Judgment in RTL Case of Shanghai Petitioner-turned-activist Sun Jun” (上海上访维权人士孙军劳教案判决(图)), December 18, 2010, http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012181442.shtml
[x] “Guangxi Petitioner Sent to RTL Twice, only 40 Days Apart” (广西访民两度被劳教 间 隔仅40天(图)), December 20, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012201938.shtml
[xi] “Wuhan National Security Officers Seek to Appoint Lawyer in ‘Li Tie Case'” (“李铁案”武汉国保欲指定律师), December 20, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012201726.shtml
[xii] “Inner Mongolia Scholar Hada Completes Sentence; Lack of Concrete Information Leads to Great Interest from All Corners” (内蒙学者哈达刑满后无确切消息引各界广泛关注(图)), December 14, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012142144.shtml
[xiii] “Lawyer Prevented from Meeting with Li Tie Due to ‘State Secrets'” (李铁案被以“涉密”阻止律师会见), December 14, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012141239.shtml
[xiv] “Liaoning Labor Movement Leader Ning Xianhua Released from Prison Today” (辽宁工运领袖宁先华今天出狱), December 15, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012151459.shtml
[xv] Hubei Petitioner Wu Lijuan Placed under Soft Detention by Beijing Liaison Office from Human Rights Day until Today” (人权日，湖北访民伍立娟被驻京办软禁至今(图)), December 16, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012160909.shtml
[xvi] “Fujian Activists Threatened, Placed under Surveillance and Movements Restricted for Applying to Protest” (福建维权人士因申请游行受到威胁、监控), December 15, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012151306.shtml
[xvii] “Hunan Torture Victim He Wenwei Sends Emergency Call for Help from Prison” (湖南刑讯逼供案何文伟从监狱发出 紧急呼救(图)), December 20, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012200001.shtml; see also “Hunan Torture Victim He Wenwei’s Family Receives Notice He is Critically Ill” (湖南刑讯逼供案 何文伟家属收到病危通知), December 21, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/12/201012211838.shtml