China Human Rights Briefing January 24 – 29, 2006
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China Human Rights Briefing
(January 24 – 29, 2006)
1. After 35 Days’ Detention, Nanjing Writer Yang Tianshui Formally Arrested
The sister of Yang Tianshui received notification from authorities on January 27, 2006, confirming that Yang was formally arrested on January 20. The notification was issued by Zhengjiang City Public Security Bureau in Jiangsu Province, dated January 22. Mr. Yang was arrested on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state authority.” Yang Tianshui, a Nanjing-based Internet writer and China Democracy Party activist, is currently detained at the Detention Facility of Zhengjiang City, Dantu District, Jiangsu Province.
Yang Tianshui (real name Yang Tongyan) was detained by Nanjing public security officials on December 23, 2005. Yang has been denied access to a lawyer.
Yang was previously jailed for 10 years on charges of “counterrevolutionary crimes” for writing articles to condemn the government’s brutal suppression of the 1989 pro-democracy movement. He was detained again in late December 2004 for about one month on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state authority.” After his release on bail in January 2005, Yang resumed writing for Internet publications. He was outspoken about Chinese authorities’ political persecution of dissident writers.
2. Popular Website Disclosing Official Corruption Fire-walled
The site Yulun Jiandu Wang (Monitoring by Opinion) was blocked by authorities on January 24. Mr. Li Xinde discloses corruption cases through his multiple websites and blogs: http://zgyljd.blogchina.com (which remains accessible from outside the country as of January 29), http://vcom.hnby.com.cn/blog/blog.asp?name=guduyan, http://www.lixinde.com, and http://lixinde.blog.enorth.com.cn/ (these were apparently inaccessible). According to Radio Free Asia, Mr. Li Xinde said he received a phone call on January 25 from an official, who cited order from “higher authorities” to shut down the sites. Yulun Jiandu Wang was shut down the next day. Mr. Li created multiple blogs and web pages in response to frequent blockage. “Dahe” (Big River), target of this operation, is by far the most popular. Mr. Li’s online activism had resulted in the resignation of a corrupt vice mayor, which was featured in the May 25, 2005, New York Time op-ed, “Let Hundred Bloggers Bloom,” by Nicholas Kristof.
3. Representing Falun Gong Practitioner, Guangxi Lawyer Yang Jianxin Forced our Lawfirm
The human rights lawyer Yang Zaixin, of Zhongchi Lawfirm in Guangxi Province, was told he would no longer be employed by his firm by its director Chen Yongcai on January 12, 2006. The director apparently told Yang that this decision had to do with his legal work representing a practitioner of Falun Gong in Pingguo County, Guangxi Province. On January 26, Yang was formally notified by Zhongchi Lawfirm that, due to his failure to sign a contract to continue working for the firm, starting on February 1, he could no longer practice law in the name of this firm. Mr. Yang had been an employee of the firm since 1996, which has come under increasing pressure from authorities to interfere with Yang’s work. Mr. Yang told reporters from Dajiyuan, the overseas Falun Gong press, that this is part of the systematic attempt by authorities to hinder Falun Gong practitioners from seeking legal remedies. Chinese courts have in most cases refused to accept lawsuits or appeals involving members of this sect. Authorities have punished lawyers who take such cases by suspending their licences, pressuring firms to discontinue their employment, or even shutting down lawfirms. Mr. Yang has been involved in other celebrated human rights cases, such as representing villagers who filed suits against local officials for using violence in family planning campaigns in Linyi, Shandong Province.
Contact: Zhong Yan admin@chinese-rights-defenders.net