Son and Brother of Ye Guozhu, the “Olympics Prisoner,” Detained
Comments Off on Son and Brother of Ye Guozhu, the “Olympics Prisoner,” Detained(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, September 30, 2007)—Ye Mingjun (叶明君), son of the “Olympics Prisoner” Ye Guozhu ( 叶国柱), was criminally detained this morning on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power”. He is incarcerated at the Beijing Xuanwu District Detention Center. Ye Guoqiang （叶国强）, brother of Ye Guozhu, has also been detained but his family has not received a formal detention order.
Ye Mingjun was taken from his home on September 29 by the Beijing Xuanwu District Public Security Bureau police together with his cousin, Ye Minghua ( <!–
D([“mb”,”叶明华u003c/span>), afternthe police searched the flat of Ye Minghua's father (Ye Guoqiang) and took awayntwenty-six of his father's articles and two computers. While Ye Mingjun wasndetained, Ye Minghua was later released. Ye Minghua reported being asked by thenpolice whether or not he had typed any articles for Ye Guozhu. u003c/p>nnnnu003cp>The whereabouts of Ye Guoqiang are unknown since he leftnhome the morning of September 29.u003cspan> u003c/span>YenMinghua was told by a guard at the police station that his father is "under policencontrol", but he could not get any information about what crime his father was undernsuspicion of committing.u003cspan> u003c/span>u003c/p>nnnnu003cp>Between 2001 and 2003, to clear land for a facility to benused in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the government forcibly demolished the homesnand restaurant of Ye Guozhu and Ye Guoqiang without sufficient compensation, thusndepriving them of their livelihood and rendering homeless the two brothers andntheir families including their aged parents. The two have repeatedly petitionednauthorities for compensation without success. In desperation, Ye Guoqiangnattempted suicide in October 2003. For that, he was sentenced to two years innjail for 'provoking and making trouble'. u003c/p>nnnnu003cp>Ye Guozhu began helping petitioners who come to Beijingnto file complaints with the central government. In August 2004, he applied fornpermission to organize the 'September 18 10,000 People March' to protestnagainst forced evictions. He was promptly detained and on December 18, 2004, was sentenced to four years innprison for 'provoking and making trouble.' He has reportedly been torturednduring his detention and imprisonment. u003c/p>nnnnu003cp>CHRD condemns thendetention of Ye Mingjun and Ye Guoqiang and the continued imprisonment of YenGuozhu. CHRD believes they are detained or imprisonednsolely for peaceful expression of opinion, petitioning and organizing protests.nTheir detention and imprisonment violate the rights to freedom of expressionnand freedom of peaceful assembly guaranteed, respectively, in Articles 19 andn21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Chinanis signatory. CHRD also condemns the forcibleneviction of the Ye families from their properties and the violation of their rightnto adequate housing guaranteed in Article 11 of the International Covenant onnEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights, which Chinanhas signed and ratified. “,1]
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//–> 叶明华), after the police searched the flat of Ye Minghua’s father (Ye Guoqiang) and took away twenty-six of his father’s articles and two computers. While Ye Mingjun was detained, Ye Minghua was later released. Ye Minghua reported being asked by the police whether or not he had typed any articles for Ye Guozhu.
The whereabouts of Ye Guoqiang are unknown since he left home the morning of September 29. Ye Minghua was told by a guard at the police station that his father is “under police control”, but he could not get any information about what crime his father was under suspicion of committing.
Between 2001 and 2003, to clear land for a facility to be used in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the government forcibly demolished the homes and restaurant of Ye Guozhu and Ye Guoqiang without sufficient compensation, thus depriving them of their livelihood and rendering homeless the two brothers and their families including their aged parents. The two have repeatedly petitioned authorities for compensation without success. In desperation, Ye Guoqiang attempted suicide in October 2003. For that, he was sentenced to two years in jail for ‘provoking and making trouble’.
Ye Guozhu began helping petitioners who come to Beijing to file complaints with the central government. In August 2004, he applied for permission to organize the ‘September 18 10,000 People March’ to protest against forced evictions. He was promptly detained and on December 18, 2004, was sentenced to four years in prison for ‘provoking and making trouble.’ He has reportedly been tortured during his detention and imprisonment.
CHRD condemns the detention of Ye Mingjun and Ye Guoqiang and the continued imprisonment of Ye Guozhu. CHRD believes they are detained or imprisoned solely for peaceful expression of opinion, petitioning and organizing protests. Their detention and imprisonment violate the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly guaranteed, respectively, in Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is signatory. CHRD also condemns the forcible eviction of the Ye families from their properties and the violation of their right to adequate housing guaranteed in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which China has signed and ratified. <!–
D([“mb”,”u003c/p>nnnnu003cp>CHRD calls for the immediatenand unconditional release of Ye Mingjun, Ye Guoqiang and Ye Guozhu. It alsoncalls on the Chinese government to hold accountable those officials responsiblenfor having failed to protect the rights of these three individuals. Finally, CHRDncalls on the government to adequately compensate the Ye families for their lostnproperties. The Chinese government has failed to keep the promise it made tonimprove human rights when it bid to host the 2008 Olympics.u003cspan> u003c/span>Like the Ye family, many Beijingnresidents have been victimized by Olympics construction and their resistancenand protests have been penalized. u003c/p>nnnnu003cp>Click u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/Class9/Class48/Class80/200705/20070531231431_4506.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a>nfor more information about the Ye brothers. u003c/p>nnnnu003cp>u003cb>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:9pt;font-family:SimSun;color:rgb(51, 153, 102)”>______________________________u003cWBR>______________u003c/span>u003c/b>u003c/p>nnu003cp>u003cb>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:10pt;color:rgb(51, 153, 102)”>Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) isna non-political, non-government network of grassroots and internationalnactivists promoting human rights protection and empowering grassroots activism innu003c/span>u003c/b>u003cb>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:10pt;color:rgb(51, 153, 102)”>Chinau003c/span>u003c/b>u003cb>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:10pt;color:rgb(51, 153, 102)”>.nu003cspan> u003c/span>CHRD's objective is to build NGOncapacities, monitor rights development, and assist victims of abuse.u003cspan> u003c/span>CHRD advocates non-violent and rule of lawnapproaches. CHRD conducts investigation and research, provides information,norganizes training, supports a program of small grants, and offers legalnassistance.u003c/span>u003c/b>u003c/p>nnnnu003cp>u003cb>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:9pt;color:blue”>To unsubscribe, please "Reply" to this mailnwith "unsubscribe" in the "Subject" line.u003c/span>u003c/b>u003c/p>nn”,0]
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CHRD calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ye Mingjun, Ye Guoqiang and Ye Guozhu. It also calls on the Chinese government to hold accountable those officials responsible for having failed to protect the rights of these three individuals. Finally, CHRD calls on the government to adequately compensate the Ye families for their lost properties. The Chinese government has failed to keep the promise it made to improve human rights when it bid to host the 2008 Olympics. Like the Ye family, many Beijing residents have been victimized by Olympics construction and their resistance and protests have been penalized.
Click here for more information about the Ye brothers.
