China Human Rights Briefing March 15-31, 2009
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Reporting human rights development from the grassroots
March 15-31, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS
– As the dates of a number of sensitive anniversaries draw nearer, CHRD has observed a widening effort by authorities to control, harass, and intimidate citizens they believe pose a threat to officially mandated “harmony;” in particular:
– the detention of former soldier Zhang Shijun (张世军) and summoning of dissident writer Jiang Qisheng (江棋生) over concerns about the upcoming anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4
– the detention of activist Tan Zuoren (谭作人) for mobilizing volunteers to conduct an investigation into earthquake deaths in advance of the one-year anniversary of the Sichuan Earthquake on May 12
– While the end of the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC in Beijing saw the release of many petitioners, CHRD has documented numerous cases in these past two weeks of petitioners who continue to be harassed, detained, or attacked, in many cases after being forcibly returned to their homes. CHRD has also observed a disturbing pattern of arbitrary detention and violence against petitioners in Heilongjiang Province, highlighted in recent weeks by the case of Chen Jinxia (陈金霞).
– Harassment of Charter 08 signatories has continued as police in various cities have interrogated and intimidated participants, subjecting some to home searches and surveillance. Liu Xiaobo’s (刘晓波) exact place of detention remains unknown, though police took his wife to a second meeting with him at a location in the outskirts of Beijing.
Table of Contents
Former Tiananmen Soldier Detained for Public Letter. 4
Beijing Dissident Summoned, Home Searched. 4
Liu Xia Meets with Liu Xiaobo a Second Time. 5
Fujian Activist Questioned Again about Charter 08. 5
Beijing Scholar Punished for Supporting Charter 08. 5
Charter 08 Drafters Make Time List of Most Influential Finalists; Not Reported in China. 5
Beijing Dissident Summoned; Home Searched. 5
Well-Known Dissident Writer Issues Public Letter Calling for Release of Liu Xiaobo. 6
Persecution of Political, Labor, and Human Rights Activists. 6
Dongguan Activist, Released after Two Meetings, Detained Again. 6
Hangzhou Author Barred from Traveling to Hong Kong. 6
Pressure on Shandong Community-Run School Teachers Continues. 6
Jiangsu Community-Run School Teachers Summoned, Harassed. 7
Second Trial Begins for Beijing Lawyer Stripped of Passport. 7
Verdict Upheld in Appeal of Housing Rights Activist. 7
Shanghai Democratic Activist Disappears. 7
Guyiang PSB Harass Activists Following Group Outing. 7
Veterans’ Rights Advocate Released on Bail to Await Trial 8
Fujian Activist Huang Weizhong under Surveillance after Release from Black Jail 8
Kunming Activist Forcibly Returned, Placed under House Arrest. 8
Feng Zhenghu Released after 41 Days in Black Jail 8
Workers’ Representatives Detained in February Formally Arrested. 8
Chengdu Writer Detained for Mobilizing Volunteers to Investigate Earthquake Deaths. 9
Shanghai Petitioner Detained during Two Meetings Held upon Return. 9
Heilongjiang Petitioner Illegally Detained in Black Jail after Completing RTL Term; Son Lost. 9
Wuhan Petitioner Released from Psychiatric Hospital 9
Petitioners Detained During Two Meetings Released. 10
Wuhan Court Employee Ignores Request from Petitioner, Fakes Deafness. 10
Health adviser /Professor: “More than 99% of Veteran Petitioners Suffer from Mental Illness”. 10
Petitioners Detained, Under House Arrest as Wen Jiabao Arrives in Wuhan. 10
Torture and Other Cruel or Inhuman Treatment. 10
Guiyang Petitioner Beaten in Detention. 10
Wuhan Petitioner Beaten in Black Jail 11
Imprisoned Dissident’s Health Worsens. 11
Wanggang Town, Harbin City Party Secretary Beats Women. 11
Urumqi Railway Workers Dismissed; Representative Detained. 11
Hundreds Gather to Demand Back Wages in Shaanxi 11
Lawyers Barred from Meeting with Client. 12
More than 1000 Henan Teachers Gather to Protest. 12
Shandong Activist Sent to RTL for Participating in Gathering. 12
Beijing’s Yitong Law Firm Closed for Six Months. 13
Victims of Forced Eviction Attacked; Two Hospitalized. 13
Trial Begins in Wuhan Petitioner’s Suit. 13
Ministry of Public Security Issues Regulations Targeting Corruption. 14
Countdown to June 4
Former Tiananmen Soldier Detained for Public Letter
Zhang Shijun (张世军), a former soldier who was present during the crackdown on protestors in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, was seized at his home by local police in the predawn hours of March 19 and remains in detention in an unknown location on the outskirts of Tengzhou City, Shandong Province. Zhang had recently issued a public letter to Hu Jintao denouncing the Tiananmen Square massacre and calling for democracy, and had accepted interviews with a number of international media organizations. (CHRD)[i]
Beijing Dissident Summoned, Home Searched
On the morning of March 31, Jiang Qisheng (江棋生), a former 1989 prisoner, dissident writer, and vice-chairman of the Independent Chinese PEN, was taken away from his home in Beijing and interrogated by police for six hours. During the interrogation, police produced a print-out copy of an article about the June 4th crackdown that Dr. Jiang was working on from his computer. Police threatened Dr. Jiang and warned him against playing any role in organizing commemorative activities to observe the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. Officers also searched his home and confiscated 3 computers, bank cards, many books, notebooks, and manuscripts. (CHRD)[ii]
Charter 08 Watch
Liu Xia Meets with Liu Xiaobo a Second Time
Liu Xia (刘霞), wife of incarcerated activist and writer Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波), was allowed to meet with her husband on March 20 for the second time since he was detained on December 8, 2008. As before, the two ate lunch under the watch of a number of guards at a location on the outskirts of Beijing. It is still unknown where Liu Xiaobo is being detained. Liu Xia reports that Liu Xiaobo appears to be in generally good health, though skinnier than before, and that he is kept in a windowless room everyday and not allowed to leave. When asked how much longer his detention would last, officers would not comment. (CHRD)[iii]
Fujian Activist Questioned Again about Charter 08
At 10:30 in the morning on March 17, officers from the National Security Unit under the Nanping City PSB, as well as the associate director of a local PSB station, arrived at the home of Fan Yanqiong (范燕琼) to question her about her involvement with Charter 08 as well as with a proposed citizens’ organization designed to supervise the government and check corruption. Fan refused to answer their questions, and the officers left after 20 or 30 minutes, threatening her on their way out. (CHRD)[iv]
Beijing Scholar Punished for Supporting Charter 08
CHRD learned on March 19 that Wu Zuolai (吴祚来), a research fellow at the Chinese National Academy of Arts in Beijing, was removed from his post as president of the journal Theory and Criticism of Literature and Art (Wenyi Lilun yu Piping) and demoted to a lower pay grade as a result of his support for Charter 08 and posting a number of articles online critical of the authorities. (CHRD)[v]
Charter 08 Drafters Make Time List of Most Influential Finalists; Not Reported in China
On March 23, Time Magazine included the 303 drafters of Charter 08 among the 203 finalists for its 2009 list of the World’s 100 Most Influential People. Mainland Chinese media, while noting the inclusion of Hu Jintao, who made his fifth appearance on the list, cautiously avoided reporting on the selection of the authors of the Charter. (CHRD)[vi]
Beijing Dissident Summoned; Home Searched
At 8 in the evening of March 23, more than a dozen officers from the Beijing PSB arrived at the home of recently released political prisoner Cha Jianguo (查建国), and, after producing a search warrant, proceeded to search his home for two hours, confiscating his computer, cell phone, credit cards and banking information, as well as manuscripts and data storage devices. Later that evening police returned to summon Cha, one of the main organizers of China Democracy Party, to the Tiantan PSB station, where he was interrogated for 12 hours. Cha, whose political rights will not be reinstated until June 2010, was questioned about signing Charter 08, meeting with foreign media, and meeting with one of the recently released members of the Beijing Study Group, all “political” activities in which he is forbidden to take part. (CHRD)[vii]
Well-Known Dissident Writer Issues Public Letter Calling for Release of Liu Xiaobo
On March 24, author Yu Jie (余杰) published a public letter to Hu Jintao demanding the release of incarcerated Charter 08 drafter Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波), calling his detention illegal and inhumane. The letter can be viewed on CHRD’s website here. (CRLW)[viii]
Persecution of Political, Labor, and Human Rights Activists
Dongguan Activist, Released after Two Meetings, Detained Again
Dongguan petitioner, labor activist and Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch volunteer Xiao Qingshan (肖青山, aka Xiao Gaosheng [肖高升]), was released from detention in Jian City, Jiangxi Province on March 14. He had been illegally detained at the Baiyunshan Senlin PSB station in Jian since March 1, when he was intercepted at the Jiujiang City train station while attempting to travel to Beijing. After his release, Xiao travelled to Beijing to sightsee, where he was seized by police at Tiananmen Square on the morning of March 16 and detained along with one hundred petitioners in the Tiananmen PSB station. He was later released, and returned to Dongguan on March 21. Upon arriving home, however, Xiao was forced to vacate his apartment by his landlord, who reported she had been pressured by the local PSB. (CRLW)[ix]
Hangzhou Author Barred from Traveling to Hong Kong
On the morning on March 18, dissident writer Zan Aizong (昝爱宗) was prevented from boarding a Dragon Airlines flight at Hangzhou’s Xiaoshan International Airport bound for Hong Kong. Zan, who possessed a valid Hong Kong and Macau travel document, was not given any explanation by border guards responsible for stopping him. It is believed that authorities wished to prevent Zan from attending a meeting of the Independent Chinese PEN in Hong Kong, and were also concerned about the upcoming anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. This is the third time in the past three years that Zan has been barred from leaving the mainland. (CHRD)[x]
Pressure on Shandong Community-Run School Teachers Continues
Official action against laid-off community-run (minban) school teachers in Shandong continued around March 20 as two teachers’ representatives seized in early March (Fan Rongjin [范容进], of Qufu City, and Bi Yizhu [毕义柱], of Zoucheng City) were criminally detained. Along with Wang Diangang (王殿冈), and Cheng Baoyi (盛保意), both seized in March and criminally detained on suspicion of “possession of state secrets”, this brings the total number of community-run school teachers detained in Shandong to four.
The teachers represented by these four have been under intense pressure since January, with numerous cases of representatives being placed under surveillance, subjected to searches of their homes, or detained. At the end of 2008, these teachers mobilized a group of thousands to demonstrate in Shandong, drawing media attention. It is believed local authorities are being particularly aggressive in order to prevent any further action on their part. (CRLW)[xi][xii]
Jiangsu Community-Run School Teachers Summoned, Harassed
On March 18, Jiangsu Province authorities summoned one community-run school teachers’ representative and threatened another as they increased pressure on teachers’ groups ahead of a meeting of teachers’ representatives from many provinces planned for March 19 to March 21 in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Tang Huanqun (唐焕群) was summoned, while Cheng Ruijin (程瑞金) was contacted three times by police and warned against participating in the meeting. Tang told he would be watched during the scheduled meeting and two police stood guard outside his home. (CRLW)[xiii]
Second Trial Begins for Beijing Lawyer Stripped of Passport
On the morning of March 19, the appeals case brought by Teng Biao (滕彪) against the Beijing Border Inspection Station opened at Beijing Number Two Intermediate Court. Teng, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law, is suing to regain his right to travel internationally as well as for the return of his passport. Teng, who was stopped while trying to board a flight at Beijing Capital Airport on the orders of the Beijing PSB on January 18, 2008, lost his first lawsuit on November 13, 2008. (CHRD)[xiv]
Verdict Upheld in Appeal of Housing Rights Activist
The original verdict in the case of Beijing-based housing rights activist Ni Yulan (倪玉兰), convicted of “obstructing official business” for allegedly assaulting a police officer during her forced eviction on April 15, 2008, was upheld in a closed trial on March 19. The main evidence against Ni, a video which allegedly documented the attack, was not shown at either trial, nor were Ni’s lawyers permitted to view it. (CHRD)[xv]
Shanghai Democratic Activist Disappears
Shanghai democratic activist Han Lifa (韩立法) was detained by Shanghai police on March 15, and his current whereabouts are unknown. Han, a veteran activist, has been detained, beaten, and imprisoned numerous times since he began his activism in the wake of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The reason for his current detention is unknown. (CHRD)[xvi]
Guyiang PSB Harass Activists Following Group Outing
After the Guiyang Human Rights Forum held an excursion on March 14 to the countryside outside of Giuyang City, Guizhou Province, Guiyang PSB responded on March 16 by searching the home of Chen Defu (陈德富), copying the contents of Chen’s camera and confiscating a picture taken of the group on the 14th. Guiyang PSB also summoned activist Chen Xi (陈西) on March 16 and questioned him for 7 hours about the excursion. Wu Yuqin (吴玉琴), who took part in the outing, reported being harassed and threatened by members of the National Security Unit under the Guiyang PSB, and that unidentified individuals, believed to be National Security Unit officers, cut the power lines to her home. According to members, the outing was purely a recreational activity. (CHRD)[xvii]
Veterans’ Rights Advocate Released on Bail to Await Trial
Huang Yunmin (黄云敏), detained in Kashgar City, Xinjiang Province on suspicion of “possession of guns” since February 12, was released on bail on March 11 to await trial. Huang, a retired judge in Xinjiang, had been leading a group of fellow veterans in complaining to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Kashgar about the local government’s failure to provide medical tests and applicable benefits to soldiers who were involved in nuclear testing. (WQZXD)[xviii]
Fujian Activist Huang Weizhong under Surveillance after Release from Black Jail
Fujian farmers’ representative Huang Weizhong (黄维忠) has been monitored and followed by local authorities since being released from a black jail on March 15. Huang, who was detained in a black jail in Putian County, Fujian, during the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC to prevent him from attempting to travel to Beijing to petition, believes that the surveillance is related to the upcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. (CHRD)[xix]
Kunming Activist Forcibly Returned, Placed under House Arrest
On March 25, Kunming activist Ouyang Xiaorong (欧阳小戎) and Anhui activist Hou Wenbao (侯文豹) were detained in Bangbu City, Anhui Province, by police ostensibly investigating a pyramid scheme, though it is believed the authorities suspected Ouyang and Hou were going to assist Fang Cao (芳草), wife of imprisoned writer Zhang Lin (张林), escape to Taiwan to receive an award on behalf of her husband. Fang was summoned after she escorted her sister-in-law to the Bangbu City train station, causing the policemen following her to worry she planned to leave the city.
Hou was forcibly sent home to Suzhou after being questioned, while Ouyang was detained for 36 hours before being forcibly returned to Kunming on March 26. Once home on the morning of the 27th, Ouyang was placed under house arrest (jianshi juzhu) on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power.” (CHRD)[xx]
Feng Zhenghu Released after 41 Days in Black Jail
At 5:15 in the afternoon of March 25, Shanghai-based activist and legal advisor Feng Zhenghu (冯正虎) was released from the Shanghai black jail where he had been illegally detained for 41 days. Feng, originally detained on February 15 while in Beijing and forcibly returned to Shanghai, was being held in a room at the Donghu guesthouse. Feng was detained for assisting Shanghai petitioners in seeking legal assistance in Beijing. (CHRD)[xxi]
Workers’ Representatives Detained in February Formally Arrested
Hu Weimin (胡卫民) and Tang Aimin (唐爱民), workers’ representatives from Tongliang County, Chongqing Municipality, were formally arrested on March 20 on suspicion of “assembling a crowd to disrupt social order”. The two, who are now detained in Chongqing’s Hechuan District Detention Center, were originally seized on February 15 along with three other workers’ representatives after organizing a sit-in outside of a closed silk factory. The other three representatives were released after being administratively detained for between 10 and 15 days. Family members report they have not been able to visit Hu or Tang since their detention began more than a month ago. (CHRD)[xxii]
Chengdu Writer Detained for Mobilizing Volunteers to Investigate Earthquake Deaths
On March 28, Tan Zuoren (谭作人), an environmentalist and writer, was detained by Chengdu police on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power”. On the same day, Chengdu police searched Tan’s home and confiscated his DVDs, manuscripts and documents. It is believed that Tan was detained for mobilizing volunteers to conduct an independent investigation of the causes of the collapsed school buildings which killed thousands of schoolchildren during the May 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. (CHRD)[xxiii]
Persecution of Petitioners
Shanghai Petitioner Detained during Two Meetings Held upon Return
Shanghai petitioner Li Guirong (李贵荣), intercepted in Beijing during the annual meetings of the NPC and the CPPCC, was forcibly returned to Shanghai on March 15, at which point she was detained for 5 days in the Yangsi Police Station of the Pudong District PSB. Family members report that when they visited the PSB station to inquire about Li, the officers there would not provide any evidence that they followed legal procedures, nor would they tell the family where Li was being detained. (CRLW)[xxiv]
Heilongjiang Petitioner Illegally Detained in Black Jail after Completing RTL Term; Son Lost
On March 20, CHRD learned the story of Chen Jinxia (陈金霞, aka Chen Qingxia [陈庆霞]), a petitioner from Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, who was held at a black jail after completing an RTL term in December 2008. Chen, who was first intercepted in Beijing in April 2007, was separated from her then-twelve-year-old son in the process and has been persecuted by authorities as she has tried desperately to find him over the past two years. She has been left paralyzed from a beating she received while in detention in 2007. On March 24, Chen was taken from the black jail where she was being held and transferred to Harbin University of Medical Sciences Hospital, ostensibly to receive a diagnosis and treatment for heart disease. However, Chen remains arbitrarily detained as she is guarded by two people at all times while at the hospital. (CHRD)[xxv]
Wuhan Petitioner Released from Psychiatric Hospital
On March 16, Hu Guohong (胡国红), who had been detained at a psychiatric hospital since being attacked and kidnapped off the street in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, on March 2, was released. It is believed Hu and his wife Cheng Xue (程雪) were detained to prevent them from petitioning during the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC. (CRLW)[xxvi]
Petitioners Detained During Two Meetings Released
During the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC, Jilin Province petitioner Zheng Shulan (郑淑兰) was captured in Beijing and forcibly returned to Changchun. Zheng, who was detained for 10 days between March 7 and 17 after returning, reports that 9 other petitioners were also being detained during that period in Weizigou Detention Center under Changchun City PSB. The nine petitioners have been released. (CRLW)[xxvii]
Wuhan Court Employee Ignores Request from Petitioner, Fakes Deafness
Chen Mingguan (陈明光) traveled to Qiaokou People’s Court in Wuhan to file an administrative litigation on March 24, accusing the Qiaokou PSB of illegally detaining her for 10 days. Her case was rejected without explanation by staff at the registration window. When Chen returned on the 25th with a number of other petitioners and her 80-year-old father, the same staff member pretended to be deaf and would not register Chen’s indictment or answer any questions. Chen and the others were left to protest this mistreatment outside of the courthouse. (CRLW)[xxviii]
Health adviser /Professor: “More than 99% of Veteran Petitioners Suffer from Mental Illness”
In an article published March 23 in China News Weekly (available here), an adviser to government health agencies, Beijing University professor Sun Dongdong (孙东东) claimed that “more than 99%” of veteran petitioners suffered from mental illness. In response, activists issued a public letter signed by over 300 petitioners challenging Sun’s claims and demanding an explanation from the magazine. Their letter is available here. In addition, Beijing writer and activist Wang Debang (王德邦) wrote a letter in response as well, available here.
Petitioners Detained, Under House Arrest as Wen Jiabao Arrives in Wuhan
Ahead of a March 30 visit to Wuhan by Wen Jiabao, a large number of veteran petitioners were subjected to detention or house arrest to prevent them from attempting to reach Wen. Some, like Gao Xin (高新), were detained in restaurants or other black jails, while others, like Hu Li (胡丽), found their homes surrounded by police who would not allow them to leave. It is not clear how long the restrictive measures against these petitioners will be in place. (CRLW)[xxix]
Torture and Other Cruel or Inhuman Treatment
Guiyang Petitioner Beaten in Detention
Guiyang Petitioner Ding Fayou (丁发友), intercepted in Beijing in early March and returned to Liupanshui City, Guizhou Province to be detained in the Zhongshan District Juvenile Correctional Center during the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC, was beaten while in detention, suffering a broken hand and other injuries. According to Ding’s wife, members of the National Security Unit under the Guiyang PSB were responsible for the attack. (CRLW)[xxx]
Wuhan Petitioner Beaten in Black Jail
On the morning of March 15, Wuhan petitioner Wang Zan (王赞), detained in a black jail since being forcibly returned from Beijing on March 7, was beaten by a cadre named Wu from the Changqing District Letters and Visits Office while the head of the Changqing PSB station looked on. Wang, who sustained injuries to her head and back, was able to call for help after the beating, but the police who arrived left once they discovered that she was a petitioner. Friends and family transported her to Wuhan’s Xiehe Hospital for treatment. (CRLW)[xxxi]
Imprisoned Dissident’s Health Worsens
Chen Xianying (陈贤英), wife of Chongqing dissident and an organizer of China Democracy Party Xu Wanping (许万平), visited her husband in prison on March 18 and reports that his health gotten worse while imprisoned. Chen says that he has a problem with his spleen; Xu has applied to be released on bail for medical treatment, but so far has received no response. Xu, a democratic activist since the events of 1989, is currently serving a 12-year sentence in Yuzhou Prison, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, for “inciting subversion of state power” handed down on December 24, 2005. (CHRD)[xxxii]
Wanggang Town, Harbin City Party Secretary Beats Women
Han Shufen (韩淑芬), who rented and operated a store in Wanggang Town, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, was arbitrarily denied a renewal of her lease by Party Secretary Wang Jingdong (王敬东) when the original term expired on October 1, 2008. Seeking to address the issue, Han sought a meeting with the Party Secretary on March 5, and after the meeting became confrontational, Wang assaulted Han, pushing her out of his office and causing her to suffer a heart attack. Han reports that this is part of a disturbing pattern of behavior on the part of the Party Secretary, and tells of two other women, including cancer patient Guo Shuhua (郭淑华), who were similarly attacked. (CHRD)[xxxiii]
Labor Rights
Urumqi Railway Workers Dismissed; Representative Detained
Starting in 2005, the Urumqi Railway Administration Bureau has dismissed several thousand “contract workers” or “temporary workers”, some of whom had worked upwards of 20 years for the bureau. The workers were required to sign contracts with an outside company to provide service to the railway at extremely low salaries and without the benefits of regular employees; those that refused to sign were fired. The laid-off workers have been staging continuous protests about the situation, and representative Yang Xinmei (杨新梅), who exposed official embezzlement of pension funds from the salaries of contract workers, was detained on March 16 while petitioning in Beijing and remains incarcerated in the Beijing Liason Office of the Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. (CRLW)[xxxiv]
Hundreds Gather to Demand Back Wages in Shaanxi
On the morning of March 23, between 600 and 700 workers from Shaanxi’s Haixing Supermarket chain travelled to the Shaanxi Provincial Government offices to demand the government assist them in securing back wages and proper treatment from the Goubao Company, which recently purchased the chain. Goubao closed all 109 Haixing stores suddenly on February 25, with orders for workers to “take a temporary vacation” and “await further notice” about their jobs and wages. (CHRD)[xxxv]
Right to Fair Trial
Lawyers Barred from Meeting with Client
On March 24, Beijing lawyers Jiang Tianyong (江天勇) and Tang Jitian (唐吉田) traveled to Feixiang County, Hebei Province to meet with client Ge Hefei (葛何斐), detained on suspicion of “using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement”. After they arrived, however, staff at the courthouse barred them from meeting with Ge, a clear violation of the Lawyer’s Law. Jiang and Tang have previously attempted to defend Falun Gong practitioners, including Sun Fengli (孙锋利), and met with similar obstructions. (CHRD)[xxxvi]
Henan Family of Milk Powder Victim Threatened by Local Government for Refusing to Accept 2000 Yuan Compensation
The Zhoukou City, Henan Province family of a man surnamed Wang, whose one-and-a-half year old son suffered kidney stones and was hospitalized for 35 days as a result of drinking tainted Sanlu brand powdered milk, has been threatened by local government officials since refusing an offer of 2000 RMB in January 2009 in exchange for abandoning his lawsuit. Wang, who is working with a local legal aid organization to file for damages, was visited by a number of officials from the county bureau of sanitation and the local government on March 5 and again on March 14 (though Wang himself was away from home during this visit). His family has also received a number of threatening phone calls. (CHRD)[xxxvii]
Freedom of Assembly
More than 1000 Henan Teachers Gather to Protest
On the morning of March 26, a group of more than 1000 laid-off community-run school teachers from Henan Province gathered in front of the Henan Province Department of Education to protest. The teachers were met in front of the offices by interceptors, staff from the Letters and Visits Bureau, and police, and some teachers who had planned to attend were prevented from leaving their homes. The teachers have been petitioning for years in hopes of receiving pensions and other social security benefits from the government. The protest proceeded peacefully and without any teachers being detained, but the group’s demands have yet to be met. (CRLW)[xxxviii]
Shandong Activist Sent to RTL for Participating in Gathering
Zhang Jingfeng (张金凤), who was detained on March 5 for taking part in an assembly along with other veteran petitioners and victims of injustices in Jinan City, was sent to one year and nine months of RTL by the Jinan City PSB for participating in an “illegal assembly” and “disturbing social order”. Two other activists detained along with Zhang, Li Hongwei (李红卫) and Liu Guiqin (刘桂芹), were released after being interrogated for 10 hours and their homes were searched. (CHRD)[xxxix]
Freedom of Association
Beijing’s Yitong Law Firm Closed for Six Months
On March 17, seven members of the Haidian District Bureau of Justice delivered a decision to Liu Jinsong (李劲松) in the case of Yitong Law Firm, announcing that it would be closed for six months for “reform” as punishment for employing Li Subin (李苏滨) as a legal worker without a lawyer’s license. The firm was originally closed by the Haidian District Bureau of Justice on February 17. The decision, issued March 12, comes after a March 3 hearing at which Li and administrators from the Haidian District Bureau of Justice delivered statements to members of the Haidian District People’s Government. While officials declared that the punishment was meted out for violating Article 5 of the Lawyer’s Law and in keeping with Article 9 of the Ministry of Justice’s “Punishment Methods for Illegal Acts by Lawyers and Law Firms”, lawyers at the firm believe this is retaliation for the advocacy of Yitong Law Firm lawyers for direct elections of the leadership of the Beijing Lawyers’ Association in 2008. (personal blog of Liu Jinsong)[xl]
Housing Rights
Victims of Forced Eviction Attacked; Two Hospitalized
Victims of a forced demolition in November of 2008 and living in shacks while awaiting a hearing on compensation, the Suizhou City, Hubei Province families of Deng Chunhua (邓春华) and Yi Qianguo (易千国) were surprised the afternoon of March 23 when more than 30 armed thugs arrived with three forklifts and other vehicles to clear away the rubble on the site of Deng and Yi’s former homes. When family members resisted, the thugs attacked. Yi’s son Yi Hongtao (易红涛) received 14 stitches at a nearby hospital after being struck in the head with a brick, while Liu Shiying (刘世英) was hospitalized after being knocked unconscious. (CRLW)[xli]
Citizens’ Actions
Trial Begins in Wuhan Petitioner’s Suit
On March 24, Wuchang District Court began hearing arguments in the suit brought by Wuhan petitioner Zhou Xinbao (周新宝) against the Wuchang PSB challenging the PSB’s decision to administratively detain him for 15 days in November of 2008. Zhou’s home was forcibly demolished a few years ago, and after petitioning at every level locally, Zhou travelled to Beijing in November of 2008, where he was captured and forcibly returned by interceptors from Wuhan, at which point he was administratively detained. In addition to overturning that decision, Zhou’s suit seeks compensation for financial loss and mental hardship. Wuhan petitioners Chen Mingguan (陈明光) and Xiao Changhai (肖昌海), who hoped to attend the trial, were prevented from leaving their homes. (CRLW)[xlii]
Law and Policy Watch
Ministry of Public Security Issues Regulations Targeting Corruption
According to a March 17 Xinhua News Agency report, the Ministry of Public Security Communist Party Committee recently published a document entitled “Five Prohibited Acts for Leading Cadres of Public Security Organs”. The regulations, designed to limit corruption, specify violations (including involvement in government procurement, engineering projects, or insider trading, for example) which could cost cadres their job if committed. The Ministry of Public Security, which enjoys wide-ranging powers, has previously issued a number of similar confidential documents, with little success. (Legal Daily)[xliii]
Yunnan PSB Implements New Regulations; Abuse by Jailers, Prison Bosses, Fellow Prisoners Targeted
Legal Daily reports that on March 20, in the provincial capital of Kunming, Yunnan Public Security Organs approved and implemented the “Yunnan Province Public Security Organs’ Six Police Regulations”, establishing guidelines to prevent torture and abuse of prisoners by police, guards, and fellow inmates. The regulations also set firm prohibitions on official misconduct, including protecting officers who break the law.
The use of fellow inmates to enforce “discipline” in Chinese jails and detention centers is a well-documented and serious problem. In a recent article, China Daily reported on the phenomenon and cited criminal justice experts who called for control of pretrial detention centers to be taken away from police in hopes of curbing the abuses. The report also cited five deaths in pretrial detention centers since February 8. [xliv]
These cases have been drawing increased attention domestically and abroad. In late February, the term “eluding the cat” (躲猫猫, a hide-and-seek game) became widely used on the internet after reports surfaced of the death of Li Qiaoming (李荞明), whose death in a Yunnan detention center was originally attributed to injuries sustained while playing “elude the cat.” After an investigation, officials admitted Li had been beaten by other inmates.[xlv] (Legal Daily)[xlvi]
Editors: Wang Songlian and David Smalls
[i] “Zhang Shijun, Soldier Active on ‘6/4’, in Secret Detention (“六四”戒严部队军人张世军被秘密羁押)”, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/liusi/200903/20090327195211_14543.html. and “‘6/4’ Soldier Zhang Shijun in Secret Detention (“六四”戒严部队军人张世军被秘密羁押)”, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/liusi/200903/20090327195211_14543.html.
[ii] “Beijing Dissident Jiang Qisheng Summoned, Home Searched”, April 1, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200904/20090401103003_14610.html.
[iii] “Liu Xia Obtains Permission to Meet with Liu Xiaobo Again Today (刘霞女士今天再次获准与刘晓波先生见面)”, March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320170003_14403.html.
[iv] “Fan Yanqiong: Today, I Strongly Refused to Be Examined by National Security Officers Again about ‘Charter 08’ and ‘Citizens’ Government Oversight’ (范燕琼：今天，我强烈拒绝国保再次审查联署《零八宪章》以及 《公民监政》！)”, March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200903/20090317202337_14336.html.
[v] “‘Charter 08’ Signatory, Celebrated Scholar Wu Zuolai Suffers Retaliation (零八宪章》签署人、著名学者吴祚来遭受打击报复)”, March 19, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200903/20090319141311_14382.html.
[vi]“‘Charter 08’ Authors on List of ‘Time’ Magazines’ 2009 100 Most Influential People (《零八宪章》作者们入围《时代》周刊2009年百大最具影响力人物)”, March 23, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200903/20090323005300_14433.html.
[vii]“Home of Beijing Dissident Zha Jianguo Searched; Summoned for 12 Hours (北京异议人士查建国先生家中被搜查 被传讯12小时)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090324161711_14471.html.
[viii] “Yu Jie: Please Return Sunshine and Freedom to Liu Xiaobo (余杰：请将阳光和自由归还给刘晓波)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200903/20090324013325_14455.html
[ix]” Xiao Qingshan Tells of “Two Meetings” Detainment Experience in Beijing (肖青山讲述”两会”进京受阻被关押的经历)”, March 22, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090322161451_14427.html.
[x] “Zan Aizong: In the Past Three Years, I Have Been Barred from Leaving the Country Three Times (昝爱宗：三年来，我三 次被禁出境)”, March 19, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090319144329_14386.html
[xi] “Crackdown on Shandong Community-Run School Teachers; Fan Rongjin and Bi Yizhu Criminally Detained (山东民师遭严打 范容进毕义柱两名代表被刑拘)”, March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320205756_14408.html.
[xii] “Fourth Shandong Community-Run School Teacher Criminally Detained; Jiangsu Community-Run School Teachers Present Petition (山东第四位民师-盛保意被刑拘 江苏铜山民师请愿)”, March 31, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090331185056_14600.html.
[xiii] “Cross-Provincial Community-run School Teachers’ Meeting Stifled; Jiangsu Teachers Summoned; Shandong Teachers Under Surveillance; Many Homes Searched (省民师集会被阻止江苏民师被传唤 山东遭严控多人被抄家)”, March 18, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090318235621_14379.html.
[xiv]“Trial Begins in Teng Biao Right to Leave the Country Appeal (滕彪出国权案二审开庭)”, March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320152430_14401.html.
[xv] “A Statement Concerning Ni Yulan’s Appeal Verdict from Her Lawyers (关于倪玉兰案二审宣判的律师声明)”, March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320130543_14400.html.
[xvi] “Shanghai Democratic Activist Han Lifa Seized on the 15th; Current Whereabouts Unknown (上海民运人士韩立法先生15日被逮捕 至今下落不明)”, March 22, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090322210710_14431.html.
[xvii] “Protest the Guiyang PSB’s Illegal Actions (抗议贵阳公安的违法行经)”, March 16, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090316234556_14323.html. And “Wu Yuqin: Severly Condemn the Shameless Behavior of the Guiyang “National Security Unit”吴玉琴：严厉谴责贵阳”国保”的无耻行为)”, March 23, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class7/200903/20090323011759_14435.html.
[xviii] “Framed Veterans’ Rights Warrior Huang Yunmin Released on Bail to Await Trial (被栽赃陷害的军人维权斗士黄云敏被取保候审)”, March 23, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090323142051_14438.html.
[xix]“Chinese Government, Concerned about 60th Anniversary, Drafts Blacklist; Fujian Activist Huang Weizhong Under Surveillance (中国政府为保60年大庆列出防控黑名单，福建维权人士黄维忠受到严密监控)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/Class45/200903/20090324172655_14474.html.
[xx]“Ouyang Xiaorong Forcibly Returned Home (欧阳小戎被送回原籍)”, March 26, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090326233800_14530.html.
[xxi] “Feng Zhenghu: Thanks for Supporting Feng Zhenghu’s Fight against Tyranny (冯正虎：向声援冯正虎维权抗暴的民众致谢)”, March 30, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090330133234_14573.html.
[xxii] “Sichuan Authorities Strike Hard on Rights Activists to Maintain ‘Stability'”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200903/20090324112919_14466.html.
[xxiii] “Sichuan Activist Detained before Earthquake Anniversary”, April 1, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200904/20090401142033_14615.html.
[xxiv] “Shanghai Petitioner Li Guirong Detained (上 海李贵荣被拘留)”, March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090317211627_14337.html.
[xxv]“Beating and Detention of Petitioner Latest in Series of Heilongjiang Abuses “, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200903/20090327172609_14540.html and “Petitoner and Activist Chen Jinxia Detained in Black Jail after RTL; Child Lost after Interception(上访维权人士陈金霞被劳教并关”黑监狱”，孩子被截访人弄丢), March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320165543_14402.html. And “Heilongjiang Petitioner Chen Qingxia Admitted to Harbin Hospital for Treatment (黑龙江上访人士陈庆霞被送入哈尔滨医院治疗)”, March 30, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090330235925_14581.html.
[xxvi] “Shanghai Petitioner Li Guirong Detained; Wuhan Petitioner Hu Guohong and Others Visit to Tell of Injustices (上海李贵荣被拘留 武汉胡国红等来访诉冤情)” March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090317211627_14337.html.
[xxvii] “Hunan Black Jail Holding more than 10l Changchun Detains 9 Petitioners (湖南黑监狱关押十多人长春拘留九位访民)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090324013006_14454.html.
[xxviii]“Wuhan Qiaokou Court Fakes Deafness, Will Not Register Case; Petitioner Group Protests (武汉桥口法院装哑巴不立案访民集体抗议)”, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090327014222_14533.html.
[xxix] “Wuhan Peitioners Placed under House Arrest in Advance of Officials’ Visit (武汉多位访民因中央官员来访遭软禁)”, March 31, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090331123059_14596.html.
[xxx] “Shanghai Petitioner Li Guirong Detained; Wuhan Petitioner Hu Guohong and Others Visit to Tell of Injustices (上海李贵荣被拘留 武汉胡国红等来访诉冤情)” March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090317211627_14337.html. and http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=1831.
[xxxi] “Omnipresent ‘Black Jails’ (无处不在的’黑监狱’)”, March 18, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090318210714_14360.html.
[xxxii]“Chongqing Dissident Xu Wanping’s Physical Condition Worsens in Prison; Family Home Faces Demolition (重庆异议人士许万平在狱中身体状况恶化，家中老屋面临拆迁)”, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/Class24/200903/20090327181400_14541.html.
[xxxiii] “Wanggang Town, Harbin City Party Secretary Wang Jingdong (王敬东) Beats Women (哈尔滨王岗镇党委书记王敬东殴打妇女)”, March 28, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090328233817_14563.html.
[xxxiv] “Thousands of “Contract Workers” Dismissed by Urumqi Railway Administration Bureau over Service Dispatch Agreement (乌鲁木齐铁路局数千”合同工”被以劳务派遣的形式辞退)”, March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090317230914_14349.html.
[xxxv] “Haixing Supermarket Employees Travel to Shaanxi Provincial Government to Petition (海星超市员工到陕西省政府上访)”, March 25, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090325154347_14494.html.
[xxxvi]“Jiang Tianyon, Tan Jitian Prevented from Meeting Client by Feixiang, Hubei Court (江天勇、唐吉田被河北肥乡县法院阻止会见当事人)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090324195540_14476.html.
[xxxvii] “Family of Henan Milk Powder Victim Threatened by Local Government for Refusing 2000 RMB Compensation (河南奶粉受害者家长因拒领两千元补偿金而受到当地政府恐吓)”, March 16, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090316234345_14321.html.
[xxxviii] “Henan Laid-off Community-Run School Teachers Stage Large-Scale Protest (河南被辞退民办教师发动大规模示威抗议行动)”, March 26, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090326212603_14523.html.
[xxxix] “Jinan Activist Zhang Jinfeng Sent to RTL; Group of ‘Jizheng’ Victims Under Pressure (济南维权人士张金凤被劳教，”济正”非法集资维权被打压)”, March 29, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090329004601_14564.html.
[xl] “Beijing’s Yitong Law Firm Closed for Reform, All Staff Laid off for Six Months (北京忆通律师所被停业整顿，全所人员下岗六个月)”, March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090317212702_14339.html
[xli]“Suizhou Wenfeng Neighborhood Committee Forced Eviction Turns Violent; Two Hospitalized with Serious Injuries (随州文峰居委会强拆引发流血冲突 二人重伤住院)”, March 23, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090323232754_14448.html.
[xlii] “Trial Begins in Suit Brought by Wuhan Petitioner Zhou Xinbao against Wuchang PSB (武汉访民周新宝起诉武昌区公安局案开庭)”, March 28, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090328131939_14557.html.
[xliii] “Strictly Prohibit the Trading of Favors; Ministry of Public Security Party Committee Issues 5 Prohibitions for Leading Cadres, (严禁相互请托提供便利 公安部党委出台领导干部五个严禁)”, March 18, 2009. http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0801/2009-03/18/content_1055452.htm
[xliv] Wines, Michael. “China Daily Assails Prisoner Abuses”, New York Times, March 24, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/world/asia/25china.html.
[xlv] “Why Not Allow Sunshine to Illuminate the Prison? ‘Eluding the Cat’ Double-Talk (何不让阳光照进监所？–兼谈”躲猫猫”)”, March 11, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class7/200903/20090311144512_14215.html.
[xlvi] “Yunnan PSB Implements Six New Regulations; Police to be Held Respobsible for Prison Abuse (云南公安实施六条警规 若有牢头狱霸民警一律开除)”, March 21, 2009. http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0801/2009-03/21/content_1057481.htm.
“Zhang Shijun, Soldier Active on ‘6/4’, in Secret Detention (“六四”戒严部队军人张世军被秘密羁押)”, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/liusi/200903/20090327195211_14543.html. and “‘6/4’ Soldier Zhang Shijun in Secret Detention (“六四”戒严部队军人张世军被秘密羁押)”, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/liusi/200903/20090327195211_14543.html.
“Beijing Dissident Jiang Qisheng Summoned, Home Searched”, April 1, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200904/20090401103003_14610.html.
“Liu Xia Obtains Permission to Meet with Liu Xiaobo Again Today (刘霞女士今天再次获准与刘晓波先生见面)”, March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320170003_14403.html.
“Fan Yanqiong: Today, I Strongly Refused to Be Examined by National Security Officers Again about ‘Charter 08’ and ‘Citizens’ Government Oversight’ (范燕琼：今天，我强烈拒绝国保再次审查联署《零八宪章》以及 《公民监政》！)”, March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200903/20090317202337_14336.html.
“‘Charter 08’ Signatory, Celebrated Scholar Wu Zuolai Suffers Retaliation (零八宪章》签署人、著名学者吴祚来遭受打击报复)”, March 19, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200903/20090319141311_14382.html.
“‘Charter 08’ Authors on List of ‘Time’ Magazines’ 2009 100 Most Influential People (《零八宪章》作者们入围《时代》周刊2009年百大最具影响力人物)”, March 23, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200903/20090323005300_14433.html.
“Home of Beijing Dissident Zha Jianguo Searched; Summoned for 12 Hours (北京异议人士查建国先生家中被搜查 被传讯12小时)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090324161711_14471.html.
“Yu Jie: Please Return Sunshine and Freedom to Liu Xiaobo (余杰：请将阳光和自由归还给刘晓波)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200903/20090324013325_14455.html
“Xiao Qingshan Tells of “Two Meetings” Detainment Experience in Beijing (肖青山讲述”两会”进京受阻被关押的经历)”, March 22, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090322161451_14427.html.
“Zan Aizong: In the Past Three Years, I Have Been Barred from Leaving the Country Three Times (昝爱宗：三年来，我三 次被禁出境)”, March 19, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090319144329_14386.html
“Crackdown on Shandong Community-Run School Teachers; Fan Rongjin and Bi Yizhu Criminally Detained (山东民师遭严打 范容进毕义柱两名代表被刑拘)”, March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320205756_14408.html.
“Fourth Shandong Community-Run School Teacher Criminally Detained; Jiangsu Community-Run School Teachers Present Petition (山东第四位民师-盛保意被刑拘 江苏铜山民师请愿)”, March 31, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090331185056_14600.html.
“Cross-Provincial Community-run School Teachers’ Meeting Stifled; Jiangsu Teachers Summoned; Shandong Teachers Under Surveillance; Many Homes Searched (省民师集会被阻止江苏民师被传唤 山东遭严控多人被抄家)”, March 18, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090318235621_14379.html.
“Trial Begins in Teng Biao Right to Leave the Country Appeal (滕彪出国权案二审开庭)”, March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320152430_14401.html.
“A Statement Concerning Ni Yulan’s Appeal Verdict from Her Lawyers (关于倪玉兰案二审宣判的律师声明)”, March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320130543_14400.html.
“Shanghai Democratic Activist Han Lifa Seized on the 15th; Current Whereabouts Unknown (上海民运人士韩立法先生15日被逮捕 至今下落不明)”, March 22, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090322210710_14431.html.
“Protest the Guiyang PSB’s Illegal Actions (抗议贵阳公安的违法行经)”, March 16, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090316234556_14323.html. And “Wu Yuqin: Severly Condemn the Shameless Behavior of the Guiyang “National Security Unit”吴玉琴：严厉谴责贵阳”国保”的无耻行为)”, March 23, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class7/200903/20090323011759_14435.html.
“Framed Veterans’ Rights Warrior Huang Yunmin Released on Bail to Await Trial (被栽赃陷害的军人维权斗士黄云敏被取保候审)”, March 23, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090323142051_14438.html.
“Chinese Government, Concerned about 60th Anniversary, Drafts Blacklist; Fujian Activist Huang Weizhong Under Surveillance (中国政府为保60年大庆列出防控黑名单，福建维权人士黄维忠受到严密监控)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/Class45/200903/20090324172655_14474.html.
“Ouyang Xiaorong Forcibly Returned Home (欧阳小戎被送回原籍)”, March 26, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090326233800_14530.html.
“Feng Zhenghu: Thanks for Supporting Feng Zhenghu’s Fight against Tyranny (冯正虎：向声援冯正虎维权抗暴的民众致谢)”, March 30, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090330133234_14573.html.
“Sichuan Authorities Strike Hard on Rights Activists to Maintain ‘Stability'”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200903/20090324112919_14466.html.
“Sichuan Activist Detained before Earthquake Anniversary”, April 1, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200904/20090401142033_14615.html.
“Shanghai Petitioner Li Guirong Detained (上 海李贵荣被拘留)”, March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090317211627_14337.html.
“Beating and Detention of Petitioner Latest in Series of Heilongjiang Abuses “, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200903/20090327172609_14540.html and “Petitoner and Activist Chen Jinxia Detained in Black Jail after RTL; Child Lost after Interception(上访维权人士陈金霞被劳教并关”黑监狱”，孩子被截访人弄丢), March 20, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090320165543_14402.html. And “Heilongjiang Petitioner Chen Qingxia Admitted to Harbin Hospital for Treatment (黑龙江上访人士陈庆霞被送入哈尔滨医院治疗)”, March 30, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090330235925_14581.html.
“Shanghai Petitioner Li Guirong Detained; Wuhan Petitioner Hu Guohong and Others Visit to Tell of Injustices (上海李贵荣被拘留 武汉胡国红等来访诉冤情)” March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090317211627_14337.html.
“Hunan Black Jail Holding more than 10l Changchun Detains 9 Petitioners (湖南黑监狱关押十多人长春拘留九位访民)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090324013006_14454.html.
“Wuhan Qiaokou Court Fakes Deafness, Will Not Register Case; Petitioner Group Protests (武汉桥口法院装哑巴不立案访民集体抗议)”, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090327014222_14533.html.
“Wuhan Peitioners Placed under House Arrest in Advance of Officials’ Visit (武汉多位访民因中央官员来访遭软禁)”, March 31, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090331123059_14596.html.
“Shanghai Petitioner Li Guirong Detained; Wuhan Petitioner Hu Guohong and Others Visit to Tell of Injustices (上海李贵荣被拘留 武汉胡国红等来访诉冤情)” March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090317211627_14337.html. and http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=1831.
“Omnipresent ‘Black Jails’ (无处不在的’黑监狱’)”, March 18, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090318210714_14360.html.
“Chongqing Dissident Xu Wanping’s Physical Condition Worsens in Prison; Family Home Faces Demolition (重庆异议人士许万平在狱中身体状况恶化，家中老屋面临拆迁)”, March 27, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/Class24/200903/20090327181400_14541.html.
“Wanggang Town, Harbin City Party Secretary Wang Jingdong (王敬东) Beats Women (哈尔滨王岗镇党委书记王敬东殴打妇女)”, March 28, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090328233817_14563.html.
“Thousands of “Contract Workers” Dismissed by Urumqi Railway Administration Bureau over Service Dispatch Agreement (乌鲁木齐铁路局数千”合同工”被以劳务派遣的形式辞退)”, March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090317230914_14349.html.
“Haixing Supermarket Employees Travel to Shaanxi Provincial Government to Petition (海星超市员工到陕西省政府上访)”, March 25, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090325154347_14494.html.
“Jiang Tianyon, Tan Jitian Prevented from Meeting Client by Feixiang, Hubei Court (江天勇、唐吉田被河北肥乡县法院阻止会见当事人)”, March 24, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090324195540_14476.html.
“Family of Henan Milk Powder Victim Threatened by Local Government for Refusing 2000 RMB Compensation (河南奶粉受害者家长因拒领两千元补偿金而受到当地政府恐吓)”, March 16, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090316234345_14321.html.
“Henan Laid-off Community-Run School Teachers Stage Large-Scale Protest (河南被辞退民办教师发动大规模示威抗议行动)”, March 26, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090326212603_14523.html.
“Jinan Activist Zhang Jinfeng Sent to RTL; Group of ‘Jizheng’ Victims Under Pressure (济南维权人士张金凤被劳教，”济正”非法集资维权被打压)”, March 29, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090329004601_14564.html.
“Beijing’s Yitong Law Firm Closed for Reform, All Staff Laid off for Six Months (北京忆通律师所被停业整顿，全所人员下岗六个月)”, March 17, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090317212702_14339.html
“Suizhou Wenfeng Neighborhood Committee Forced Eviction Turns Violent; Two Hospitalized with Serious Injuries (随州文峰居委会强拆引发流血冲突 二人重伤住院)”, March 23, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200903/20090323232754_14448.html.
“Trial Begins in Suit Brought by Wuhan Petitioner Zhou Xinbao against Wuchang PSB (武汉访民周新宝起诉武昌区公安局案开庭)”, March 28, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200903/20090328131939_14557.html.
“Strictly Prohibit the Trading of Favors; Ministry of Public Security Party Committee Issues 5 Prohibitions for Leading Cadres, (严禁相互请托提供便利 公安部党委出台领导干部五个严禁)”, March 18, 2009. http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0801/2009-03/18/content_1055452.htm
Wines, Michael. “China Daily Assails Prisoner Abuses”, New York Times, March 24, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/world/asia/25china.html.
“Why Not Allow Sunshine to Illuminate the Prison? ‘Eluding the Cat’ Double-Talk (何不让阳光照进监所？–兼谈”躲猫猫”)”, March 11, 2009. https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class7/200903/20090311144512_14215.html.
“Yunnan PSB Implements Six New Regulations; Police to be Held Respobsible for Prison Abuse (云南公安实施六条警规 若有牢头狱霸民警一律开除)”, March 21, 2009. http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0801/2009-03/21/content_1057481.htm.