China Human Rights Briefing November 1-15, 2007

November 15, 2007 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing
A monthly newsletter of CHRD
November 1-15 Edition, 2007

November 1-15, 2007
(Starting from this issue, CHRD is changing from monthly to twice-monthly briefings to bring news more quickly to our readers.)

Editor’s Note

In the first half of November, the official crackdown on petitioners—ordinary people who bring injustices to the attention to higher authorities—continued in Beijing and elsewhere. The nationwide operations aim at stopping people from going to the capital as part of a systematic “clean-up” in preparation for next year’s Beijing Olympics. Authorities also continued to employ trumped-up charges to harass and detain activists. In the first half of November, Yang Maodong, writer and legal activist, and Liu Jie, a rural campaigner and activist, were respectively imprisoned and sent to Re-education through Labour on the charges of “operating an illegal business” and “instigating trouble and disturbing social order.” <!–
D([“mb”,”u003cbr>u003cbr>Activists face everyday intimidation and harassment by thenpolice. Beijing-based human rights defender, Hu Jia, was beaten forntrying to leave his residence to visit his wife who was in labor at thenhospital. Qi Zhiyong, who lost a leg after being shot during the 1989nTiananmen massacre, was denied a pass he needs to receive medicalntreatment in Hong Kong. CHRB editor: Wang Songlian u003cbr>u003cbr>u003cu>u003cb>Table of contents u003c/b>u003c/u>u003cbr>u003cu>u003cbr>Imprisonment and harassment of activistsu003c/u>u003cp>u003cu>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:12pt”>u003c/span>u003c/u>u003c/p>nnnu003cp styleu003d”margin-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt”>nnu003c/p>1. Activist Yang Maodong Sentenced to Five Years in Prisonu003cbr>2. Human Rights Defender Liu Jie Sentenced to Re-Education through Labor u003cbr>3. Beijing-based Activist Hu Jia Beaten by Police on the 179th Day of Residential Surveillance nu003cbr>4. Disabled Activist Qi Zhiyong Barred from Seeking Medical Treatment Abroadu003cbr>nnu003cbr>u003cu>Crackdown on petitioners u003c/u>u003cbr>u003ci>Disappearance u003c/i>u003cbr>5. Hunan Tobacco Farmers Representative He Mingsheng Disappeared u003cbr>u003ci>Detention u003c/i>u003cbr>6. Hunan Teacher Detained for Organizing a "Kneel-in" at Tiananmen Square nu003cbr>7. Inner Mongolia Petitioner Mao Shuchun in Continued Detention u003cbr>8. Petitioner on 2010 World Expo Forcible Demolition Detained u003cbr>9. Petitioner Illegally Detained for Fifty-five Days u003cbr>u003ci>Re-education through Labor nu003c/i>u003cbr>10. Beijing Petitioner and Activist Sent to Re-education through Labor Camp u003cbr>u003ci>Confinement in Psychiatric Institution u003c/i>u003cbr>11. Wuhan Petitioner Zou Guilan Detained and Mistreated in Psychiatric Institution for 155 Days nu003cbr>u003ci>u003cbr>u003c/i>u003cu>Right to legal counsel u003c/u>u003cbr>12. Police Bar Lawyer from Meeting Yang Tianshui u003cbr>u003cu>u003cbr>Police brutality u003c/u>u003cbr>13. Hawker Beaten to Death by Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers u003cbr>u003cbr>u003cu>Action updatenu003c/u>nn u003cbr>14. Signing up to support call for human rights-friendly Olympicsu003cp>u003cspan styleu003d”width:645px”>u003cimg heightu003d”3″ widthu003d”645″> u003c/span>u003cb>u003cu>”,1]
);

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Activists face everyday intimidation and harassment by the police. Beijing-based human rights defender, Hu Jia, was beaten for trying to leave his residence to visit his wife who was in labor at the hospital. Qi Zhiyong, who lost a leg after being shot during the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, was denied a pass he needs to receive medical treatment in Hong Kong.

CHRB editor: Wang Songlian

Table of contents

Imprisonment and harassment of activists

1. Activist Yang Maodong Sentenced to Five Years in Prison
2. Human Rights Defender Liu Jie Sentenced to Re-Education through Labor
3. Beijing-based Activist Hu Jia Beaten by Police on the 179th Day of Residential Surveillance
4. Disabled Activist Qi Zhiyong Barred from Seeking Medical Treatment Abroad

Crackdown on petitioners
Disappearance
5. Hunan Tobacco Farmers Representative He Mingsheng Disappeared
Detention
6. Hunan Teacher Detained for Organizing a “Kneel-in” at Tiananmen Square
7. Inner Mongolia Petitioner Mao Shuchun in Continued Detention
8. Petitioner on 2010 World Expo Forcible Demolition Detained
9. Petitioner Illegally Detained for Fifty-five Days
Re-education through Labor
10. Beijing Petitioner and Activist Sent to Re-education through Labor Camp
Confinement in Psychiatric Institution
11. Wuhan Petitioner Zou Guilan Detained and Mistreated in Psychiatric Institution for 155 Days

Right to legal counsel
12. Police Bar Lawyer from Meeting Yang Tianshui

Police brutality
13. Hawker Beaten to Death by Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers

Action update
14. Signing up to support call for human rights-friendly Olympics

<!–
D([“mb”,”u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:12pt”>u003cspan styleu003d”text-decoration:none”>u003c/span>u003c/span>nnu003c/u>u003c/b>u003c/p>u003cu>u003cb>Imprisonment and harassment of activistsu003c/b>u003c/u> u003cbr>u003cbr>u003cb>1. Activist Yang Maodong Sentenced to Five Years in Prison nu003c/b>u003cbr>Yang Maodong (杨茂东,a.k.a. Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄)), a Guangzhou-basednactivist, writer and legal activist, was sentenced to five years'nimprisonment and a fine of 40,000 RMB for "operating an illegalnbusiness" by the Tianhe District Court of Guangzhou City, GuangdongnProvince on November 14, 2007.nu003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200711/20071117034227_6398.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for the full CHRD briefing on Yang.u003cbr>u003cb>u003cbr>2. Human Rights Defender Liu Jie Sentenced to Re-Education through Labor nu003c/b>u003cbr>Veteran rural campaigner and human rights activist, Liu Jie (刘杰n), 55 years old, of Beian City, Heilongjiang Province, has beennsentenced to Re-Education through Labor (RTL) for 18 months by thenHeilongjiang Provincial Nongken (Military Farm Bureau) Public SecuritynBureau (PSB). Accused of "instigating trouble" and "disturbing socialnorder," Liu has been transferred to Qiqiha'er Municipal RTL camp innHeilongjiang Province. Reportedly, PSB officials earlier sent her casento the Procuratorate but the latter decided not to prosecute Liu due tonlack of evidence. The authorities seem to be exploiting the RTL systemnto penalize Liu, as the PSB can send individuals to detentionnfacilities for a maximum of four years without any proper legalnprocedures or court proceedings. u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class15/200711/20071114062028_6357.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for the full CHRD statement on Liu. u003cbr>u003cbr>u003cb>3. Beijing-based Human Rights Defender Hu Jia Beaten by Police on the 179th Day of Residential Surveillance nu003c/b>u003cbr>Hu Jia, a Beijing-based human rights defender, was beaten bynofficers from the National Security Unit (Guo Bao) of the Beijing PSBnon November 9, on the 179th consecutive day of residential surveillancenwithout legal authorization. Hu sustained injury to his right arm andnelbow and to the middle finger on his right hand. “,1]
);

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Imprisonment and harassment of activists

1. Activist Yang Maodong Sentenced to Five Years in Prison
Yang Maodong (杨茂东,a.k.a. Guo Feixiong (郭飞雄)), a Guangzhou-based activist, writer and legal activist, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 40,000 RMB for “operating an illegal business” by the Tianhe District Court of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province on November 14, 2007.

Click here for the full CHRD briefing on Yang.

2. Human Rights Defender Liu Jie Sentenced to Re-Education through Labor
Veteran rural campaigner and human rights activist, Liu Jie (刘杰 ), 55 years old, of Beian City, Heilongjiang Province, has been sentenced to Re-Education through Labor (RTL) for 18 months by the Heilongjiang Provincial Nongken (Military Farm Bureau) Public Security Bureau (PSB). Accused of “instigating trouble” and “disturbing social order,” Liu has been transferred to Qiqiha’er Municipal RTL camp in Heilongjiang Province. Reportedly, PSB officials earlier sent her case to the Procuratorate but the latter decided not to prosecute Liu due to lack of evidence. The authorities seem to be exploiting the RTL system to penalize Liu, as the PSB can send individuals to detention facilities for a maximum of four years without any proper legal procedures or court proceedings.

Click here for the full CHRD statement on Liu.

3. Beijing-based Human Rights Defender Hu Jia Beaten by Police on the 179th Day of Residential Surveillance
Hu Jia, a Beijing-based human rights defender, was beaten by officers from the National Security Unit (Guo Bao) of the Beijing PSB on November 9, on the 179th consecutive day of residential surveillance without legal authorization. Hu sustained injury to his right arm and elbow and to the middle finger on his right hand. <!–
D([“mb”,”u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200711/20071112132137_6336.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for the full CHRD briefing on Hu. u003cbr>u003cb>u003cbr>nnnn4. Disabled Activist Qi Zhiyong Barred from Seeking Medical Treatment Abroad nu003c/b>u003cbr>Beijing-based activist, Qi Zhiyong (齐志勇), was for the secondntime denied an immigration pass he needs in order to seek medicalntreatment in Hong Kong. According to another Beijing-based activist, HunJia, Qi went to the Xuanwu District PSB Immigration Services in Beijingnon November 8 to apply for the pass. The PSB officer refused hisnapplication without proper explanation, but said that it was a decisionnmade by the National Security Unit (Guo Bao) of Beijing PSB.nPreviously, on April 30, the police refused Qi's application citing ansimilar reason. Qi, who was disabled during Tiananmen, has receivedndonations from abroad and intends to undergo complex treatment for anprosthetic leg in Hong Kong. u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/Class53/200711/20071109220047_6310.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more information in Chinese. u003cbr>u003cbr>u003cu>u003cb>Crackdown on petitioners u003c/b>nnnnu003c/u>u003cbr>u003ci>Disappearance u003c/i>u003cbr>u003cbr>u003cb>5. Hunan Tobacco Farmers Representative He Mingsheng Disappeared nu003c/b>u003cbr>CHRD learnt on November 4 that the whereabouts of He Mingshengn(何明生 ), a representative of tobacco growers from Jiangyong County innHunan Province, have been unknown since he escaped from the localnauthorities' monitoring and surveillance before the 17th PartynCongress. Two other representatives, who wish to remain anonymous, toldnCHRD that Jiangyong County government has requested that they ceasentheir petitioning activities but they have refused to do so. Tobaccongrowers from Jiangyong County have been petitioning for RMB 6 millionnallegedly owed to them by the government. Their petitioning activitiesnanger local authorities, and a number of their representatives havensuffered repeated persecution. “,1]
);

//–>

Click here for the full CHRD briefing on Hu.

4. Disabled Activist Qi Zhiyong Barred from Seeking Medical Treatment Abroad
Beijing-based activist, Qi Zhiyong (齐志勇), was for the second time denied an immigration pass he needs in order to seek medical treatment in Hong Kong. According to another Beijing-based activist, Hu Jia, Qi went to the Xuanwu District PSB Immigration Services in Beijing on November 8 to apply for the pass. The PSB officer refused his application without proper explanation, but said that it was a decision made by the National Security Unit (Guo Bao) of Beijing PSB. Previously, on April 30, the police refused Qi’s application citing a similar reason. Qi, who was disabled during Tiananmen, has received donations from abroad and intends to undergo complex treatment for a prosthetic leg in Hong Kong.

Click here for more information in Chinese.

Crackdown on petitioners
Disappearance

5. Hunan Tobacco Farmers Representative He Mingsheng Disappeared
CHRD learnt on November 4 that the whereabouts of He Mingsheng (何明生 ), a representative of tobacco growers from Jiangyong County in Hunan Province, have been unknown since he escaped from the local authorities’ monitoring and surveillance before the 17th Party Congress. Two other representatives, who wish to remain anonymous, told CHRD that Jiangyong County government has requested that they cease their petitioning activities but they have refused to do so. Tobacco growers from Jiangyong County have been petitioning for RMB 6 million allegedly owed to them by the government. Their petitioning activities anger local authorities, and a number of their representatives have suffered repeated persecution. <!–
D([“mb”,”u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/Class53/200711/20071104210623_6234.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more information in Chinese and here for a previous CHRD item on tobacco growers in Jiangyong County. nu003cbr>u003cbr>u003ci>Detention nu003c/i>u003cbr>u003cb>6. Hunan Teacher Detained for Organizing a "Kneel-in" at Tiananmen Square u003c/b>u003cbr>CHRDnlearnt on November 12 that teacher representative, Zhou Guanghong (周光红n), from Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, has been detained since latenAugust for allegedly acting as the lead organizer of a teachersn"kneel-in" in Tiananmen Square on August 18. After failing to achievenany tangible results by petitioning in Beijing, fifty teachersnrepresenting more than eight hundred dismissed teachers in ShaoyangnCity, Hunan Province, knelt in front of the national flag in TiananmennSquare. They were promptly taken away and sent back to Shaoyang wherenthey were detained for as long as seven days. Although Zhou did notnparticipate in the "kneel-in," the authorities believed that he was thenleader and so he has continued to be detained. u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleIDu003d797″ targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more information in Chinese from Citizen's Rights and Livelihood Watch. nu003cbr>u003cb>u003cbr>7. Inner Mongolia Petitioner Mao Shuchun in Continued Detentionnu003c/b> u003cbr>On November 10, CHRD learnt from Citizens' Rights andnLivelihood Watch that veteran petitioner, Mao Shuchun (毛淑春 ), fromnChefang City, Inner Mongolia, has been detained in Inner Mongolia sincenshe was caught petitioning in Beijing before the 17th Party Congress. u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleIDu003d793″ targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more information in Chinese from Citizen's Rights and Livelihood Watch. nu003cbr>u003cbr>u003cb>8. Petitioner of 2010 World Expo Forcible Demolition Detained n”,1]
);

//–>

Click here for more information in Chinese and here for a previous CHRD item on tobacco growers in Jiangyong County.

Detention
6. Hunan Teacher Detained for Organizing a “Kneel-in” at Tiananmen Square
CHRD learnt on November 12 that teacher representative, Zhou Guanghong (周光红 ), from Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, has been detained since late August for allegedly acting as the lead organizer of a teachers “kneel-in” in Tiananmen Square on August 18. After failing to achieve any tangible results by petitioning in Beijing, fifty teachers representing more than eight hundred dismissed teachers in Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, knelt in front of the national flag in Tiananmen Square. They were promptly taken away and sent back to Shaoyang where they were detained for as long as seven days. Although Zhou did not participate in the “kneel-in,” the authorities believed that he was the leader and so he has continued to be detained.

Click here for more information in Chinese from Citizen’s Rights and Livelihood Watch.

7. Inner Mongolia Petitioner Mao Shuchun in Continued Detention
On November 10, CHRD learnt from Citizens’ Rights and Livelihood Watch that veteran petitioner, Mao Shuchun (毛淑春 ), from Chefang City, Inner Mongolia, has been detained in Inner Mongolia since she was caught petitioning in Beijing before the 17th Party Congress.

Click here for more information in Chinese from Citizen’s Rights and Livelihood Watch.

8. Petitioner of 2010 World Expo Forcible Demolition Detained <!–
D([“mb”,”u003c/b>u003cbr>CHRD learnt on November 8 that Xu Qiufeng (徐秋凤), a petitionernfrom Shanghai, was caught while petitioning in Beijing and has beenndetained since then. Her family and friends have received no formalnnotice from the police and do not know her whereabouts. Xu startednpetitioning after her properties were forcibly demolished innpreparation for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/dzlx/200711/20071111222104_6331.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more information in Chinese. u003cbr>u003cbr>u003cb>9. Petitioner Illegally Detained for Fifty-five Days nu003c/b>u003cbr>CHRDnlearnt on November 2 that veteran petitioner, Wu Zhaoyu (吴昭玉 ), fromnZigong City, Sichuan Province, was illegally detained by the ZigongnCity government for fifty-five days. Wu was caught while staying at thenPetitioners' Village in Beijing. She was first detained in a "blacknjail" at a Beijing inn before being sent back to Zigong City where shenhad been detained since September 9. She has now been released but hasnbeen put under "residential surveillance" at her home. Wu became anpetitioner eight years ago after the police leaked her report exposingnan illicit drug-dealing network, as a result of which she sufferednretribution from the drug dealers. u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/fmzj/200711/20071107195059_6272.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more info in Chinese. u003cbr>u003cbr>u003ci>Re-education through Labor u003c/i>u003cb>u003cbr>nnnn10. Beijing Petitioner and Activist Sent to Re-education through Labor Camp nu003cbr>u003c/b>Wang Ling (王玲), a Beijing petitioner and activist, was sent tonan RTL camp on November 6. Wang is said to be serving anone-year-and-three-month sentence at the Daxing RTL Camp in Beijing. Tonmake room for Olympics facilities, Wang's property was forciblyndemolished four years ago without proper compensation. She became anpetitioner and has joined Ye Guozhu, the "Olympics prisoner", innpreparing banners and posting posters advertising petitioners'ndemonstrations to demand protection of their rights. “,1]
);

//–>
CHRD learnt on November 8 that Xu Qiufeng (徐秋凤), a petitioner from Shanghai, was caught while petitioning in Beijing and has been detained since then. Her family and friends have received no formal notice from the police and do not know her whereabouts. Xu started petitioning after her properties were forcibly demolished in preparation for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

Click here for more information in Chinese.

9. Petitioner Illegally Detained for Fifty-five Days
CHRD learnt on November 2 that veteran petitioner, Wu Zhaoyu (吴昭玉 ), from Zigong City, Sichuan Province, was illegally detained by the Zigong City government for fifty-five days. Wu was caught while staying at the Petitioners’ Village in Beijing. She was first detained in a “black jail” at a Beijing inn before being sent back to Zigong City where she had been detained since September 9. She has now been released but has been put under “residential surveillance” at her home. Wu became a petitioner eight years ago after the police leaked her report exposing an illicit drug-dealing network, as a result of which she suffered retribution from the drug dealers.

Click here for more info in Chinese.

Re-education through Labor
10. Beijing Petitioner and Activist Sent to Re-education through Labor Camp
Wang Ling (王玲), a Beijing petitioner and activist, was sent to an RTL camp on November 6. Wang is said to be serving a one-year-and-three-month sentence at the Daxing RTL Camp in Beijing. To make room for Olympics facilities, Wang’s property was forcibly demolished four years ago without proper compensation. She became a petitioner and has joined Ye Guozhu, the “Olympics prisoner”, in preparing banners and posting posters advertising petitioners’ demonstrations to demand protection of their rights. <!–
D([“mb”,”u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200711/20071108002727_6277.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for the full CHRD briefing on Wang. u003cbr>nnnnu003cbr>u003ci>Confinement in Psychiatric Institution u003c/i>u003cbr>u003cb>11. Wuhan Petitioner Zou Guilan Detained and Mistreated in Psychiatric Institution for 155 Days nu003c/b>u003cbr>On November 6, Citizen's Rights and Livelihood Watch learntnthat petitioner, Zou Guilan (邹桂兰), from Wuhan in Hubei Province wasndetained without proper legal procedures at a psychiatric institutionnfor 155 days between November 2006 and April 2007, during which timenshe was also mistreated. Zou started petitioning because she believednthat her husband's death was a result of a conflict he had had withnJianghan University, where her husband worked. u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200711/20071106142737_6252.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more information in Chinese from Citizen's Rights and Livelihood Watch. nu003cbr>u003cbr>u003cu>u003cb>Right to legal counsel u003c/b>nu003c/u>u003cbr>u003cb>12. Police Bar Lawyer from Meeting Yang Tianshui u003c/b>u003cbr>OnnNovember 12, Nanjing Prison authorities barred defense lawyer, LinJianqiang (李建强 ), from meeting his client, jailed Nanjing dissidentnwriter, Yang Tianshui (杨天水 ). Li was planning to meet Yang to preparenan appeal of the latter's sentence. The authorities refused to allownthe meeting on the grounds that Li had no lawyer's license. Yang, anprolific internet writer who writes critically of the government, wasnsentenced in May 2006 to twelve years in prison and four years ofnpolitical rights deprivation for "subversion of state power." u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/Class18/Class23/200711/20071113112922_6348.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more information in Chinese. nu003cbr>u003cbr>u003cu>u003cb>Police brutality u003c/b>u003c/u>u003cbr>u003cb>13. Hawker Beaten to Death by Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers n”,1]
);

//–>

Click here for the full CHRD briefing on Wang.

Confinement in Psychiatric Institution
11. Wuhan Petitioner Zou Guilan Detained and Mistreated in Psychiatric Institution for 155 Days
On November 6, Citizen’s Rights and Livelihood Watch learnt that petitioner, Zou Guilan (邹桂兰), from Wuhan in Hubei Province was detained without proper legal procedures at a psychiatric institution for 155 days between November 2006 and April 2007, during which time she was also mistreated. Zou started petitioning because she believed that her husband’s death was a result of a conflict he had had with Jianghan University, where her husband worked.

Click here for more information in Chinese from Citizen’s Rights and Livelihood Watch.

Right to legal counsel
12. Police Bar Lawyer from Meeting Yang Tianshui
On November 12, Nanjing Prison authorities barred defense lawyer, Li Jianqiang (李建强 ), from meeting his client, jailed Nanjing dissident writer, Yang Tianshui (杨天水 ). Li was planning to meet Yang to prepare an appeal of the latter’s sentence. The authorities refused to allow the meeting on the grounds that Li had no lawyer’s license. Yang, a prolific internet writer who writes critically of the government, was sentenced in May 2006 to twelve years in prison and four years of political rights deprivation for “subversion of state power.”

Click here for more information in Chinese.

Police brutality
13. Hawker Beaten to Death by Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers <!–
D([“mb”,”u003c/b>u003cbr>In the afternoon of November 7, during a hygiene investigation,ntown officials and municipal by-law enforcement officers of ChenguannMunicipality in Sichuan Province clashed with a hawker named LiangnYungui (梁云贵 ). In the presence of the town mayor, the enforcementnofficers beat Liang to death. Upon hearing the news, over 10,000 peoplenspontaneously surrounded the town government building and its policenstation. The authorities dispatched over four hundred policemen to sealnoff the area, disperse the crowds, confiscate journalists' equipmentnand bar the media from reporting the news. u003cbr>u003cbr>Click u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/dzlx/200711/20071111104529_6328.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>hereu003c/a> for more information in Chinese. u003cbr>u003cu>u003cb>u003cbr>Action update u003c/b>nnnnu003c/u>u003cbr>u003cb>14. Signing up to support call for human rights friendly Olympics nu003c/b>u003cbr>Supporters worldwide continue signing up to support the call bynChinese citizens for a human rights – friendly 2008 Beijing Olympics.nCHRD has helped to disseminate translations into u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/Class9/class97/200709/20070920050059_5310.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>nEnglishu003c/a>, u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/Class9/class97/200709/20070920022013_5720.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>Frenchu003c/a>, u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/Class9/class97/200710/20071023031940_6077.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>nnnnGermanu003c/a> and u003ca hrefu003d”/Article/Class9/class97/200709/20070920021544_5719.html” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>nItalianu003c/a> of the original public letter by 38 Chinese citizens. u003cbr>u003cbr>To sign up to show your support, please email u003ca hrefu003d”mailto:networkcrd@gmail.com” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>networkcrd@gmail.comu003c/a>.u003cp>u003cb>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(51, 153, 102)”>”,1]
);

//–>
In the afternoon of November 7, during a hygiene investigation, town officials and municipal by-law enforcement officers of Chenguan Municipality in Sichuan Province clashed with a hawker named Liang Yungui (梁云贵 ). In the presence of the town mayor, the enforcement officers beat Liang to death. Upon hearing the news, over 10,000 people spontaneously surrounded the town government building and its police station. The authorities dispatched over four hundred policemen to seal off the area, disperse the crowds, confiscate journalists’ equipment and bar the media from reporting the news.

Click here for more information in Chinese.

Action update
14. Signing up to support call for human rights friendly Olympics
Supporters worldwide continue signing up to support the call by Chinese citizens for a human rights – friendly 2008 Beijing Olympics. CHRD has helped to disseminate translations into English, French, German and Italian of the original public letter by 38 Chinese citizens.

To sign up to show your support, please email networkcrd@gmail.com.

<!–
D([“mb”,”nnnnn______________________________u003cWBR>______________u003c/span>u003c/b>nu003c/p>nnu003cp>u003cb>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(51, 153, 102)”>Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD)nis a non-political, non-government network of grassroots and internationalnactivists promoting human rights protection and empowering grassroots activismnin China.u003cspan>  u003c/span>CHRD'snobjective is to build NGO capacities, monitor rights development, and assistnvictims of abuse.u003cspan>   u003c/span>CHRD advocates non-violent and rule of lawnapproaches.  CHRD conductsninvestigation and research, provides information, organizes training, supportsna program of small grants, and offers legal assistance.u003c/span>u003c/b>u003c/p>nnu003cp>u003cb>u003cspan styleu003d”font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;color:blue”>To unsubscribe, please "Reply" to this mail with "unsubscribe" innthe "Subject" line.u003c/span>u003c/b>u003c/p>nu003c/div>nu003c/div>nu003c/div>nu003c/div>u003cbr>n”,0]
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Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) is a non-political, non-government network of grassroots and international activists promoting human rights protection and empowering grassroots activism in China. CHRD’s objective is to build NGO capacities, monitor rights development, and assist victims of abuse. CHRD advocates non-violent and rule of law approaches. CHRD conducts investigation and research, provides information, organizes training, supports a program of small grants, and offers legal assistance.