China Human Rights Briefing May 18-31, 2009
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Reporting human rights development from the grassroots
May 18- May 31, 2009
Highlights
- In the final days before the twentieth anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre, officials across the country intensified their efforts to prevent any commemoration of the date. CHRD has documented the cases of 65 activists harassed by police and 160 websites closed for “system maintenance”.
- Ahead of an annual performance review scheduled to conclude on May 31, at least 20 of China’s most prominent human rights lawyers face the loss of their licenses as their employers are being pressured by local authorities to “fail” them. The potential loss of these lawyers’ licenses in this alarming attack threatens both the legal profession as a whole as well as the rights defense movement.
- On May 10, Deng Yujiao (邓玉娇), an employee at a Yesanguan Town, Badong County, Hubei Province leisure center, was allegedly confronted by an official who demanded that she give him “special service”, i.e., perform sexual acts. As the official ignored her repeated refusals and threatened her, she stabbed the official to death. Deng is now being charged with using excessive force to defend herself in a case which has garnered widespread attention. Authorities have detained and harassed journalists and citizens seeking to investigate Deng’s case or organize support for Deng.
Contents
Police Detain and Harass Activists at Least 65 Activists on Eve of Tiananmen Anniversary. 3
CHRD Releases Report on Tiananmen Rights Abuses and Impact on Current Rights Movement. 3
Websites Closed during the Week of Tiananmen Anniversary. 4
Guizhou Human Rights Forum Members Pressured for Commemorating 20th Anniversary of June 4. 4
Sichuan Activist Zhao Yuanhui Placed under Police Surveillance. 4
Heilongjiang Officials Pursuing Source of Reports about Abuse and Detention of Petitioner. 4
Hu Xingdou Wins Milestone Lawsuit against Internet Company for Website Closure. 5
Website of Magazine Advocating Democratic Reforms Blocked. 5
Lawyers Face Revocation of their Licenses for Defending Human Rights. 5
Activist Summoned Again for Signing Charter 08. 6
Seven Remain in Detention for February Court Protest in Chengdu. 6
Hunan Dissident Li Zhuoxi Detained by Police. 6
Henan Activist Seized in Beijing, Forcibly Returned Home. 6
Forced Demolition Representative Detained for Petitioning. 7
Rights activist Zhang Zilin Remains Detained after Prison Sentence Expires. 7
Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment. 7
Heilongjiang Husband and Wife Sent to Re-education through Labor, Tortured. 7
Nanjing Students Protest Beating of Student by Urban Inspection Officials. 7
Charter 08 Signatory Liu Shasha Beaten by Cadres Assigned to Monitor Her. 8
Hubei Teacher Beaten, Detained for Photographing Gathering outside Hospital 8
Family of Imprisoned Activist Chen Guangcheng Denied Visiting Rights. 8
Prison Guards Bar Family of Heilongjiang Rights Activist Yang Chunlin from Visit. 8
Hunan Petitioner Yi Zhengguo Severely Beaten in Beijing. 9
Hundreds Protest against Corruption at Tea Plantation; One Protestor Killed by Police. 9
Workers Protest Company’s Move to Vietnam.. 9
Military Police Deployed by Local Authorities to Force Villagers to Sell Land. 9
Right to Participate in Government. 10
Procedures Violated in Election Re-run in Hubei Village. 10
Officials across the Country Take Action against Citizens for Following Case of Deng Yujiao. 10
Former 1989 Participant Attempts to Submit Application to Commemorate Tiananmen Massacre. 11
Party Central Committee Adopts Regulations on Official Accountability. 11
One Month In, Hangzhou “Real Name” Internet Registration Regulations Abandoned. 11
Countdown to June 4
Police Detain and Harass Activists at Least 65 Activists on Eve of Tiananmen Anniversary
CHRD has documented the cases of sixty-five activists who have been subjected to harassment from officials in order to prevent them from organizing or taking part in activities commemorating the Tiananmen Massacre. These individuals have been taken into police custody, had their movements restricted, been forced to leave their homes, or otherwise threatened or monitored by police. In addition to those documented, more are feared to have been subjected to similar forms of harassment, but may have chosen to keep quiet to avoid repercussions. Many of these individuals are signatories to Charter 08 and were participants in the 1989 pro-democracy movement. For the full list, please see here. (CHRD)[i]
CHRD Releases Report on Tiananmen Rights Abuses and Impact on Current Rights Movement
On June 1, CHRD released “The Legacy of Tiananmen: 20 Years of Oppression, Activism and Hope,” its report on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. The report, which draws on a work produced in Chinese by Beijing writer and activist Jiang Qisheng (江棋生), looks back to the human rights violations which took place during and after the military crackdown as well as continued persecution against survivors and families of victims of the massacre. The report also discusses the current relevance of the 1989 pro-democracy protests to the human rights movement today and examines alternative proposals to address rights violations during the crackdown. Finally, lists of individuals killed, injured, imprisoned, and executed during and following the crackdown are provided as appendices. The report is available online here.
Websites Closed during the Week of Tiananmen Anniversary
CHRD learned on May 29 that a number of websites focused on socio-political issues have been closed during the week of the Tiananmen anniversary. Tianyiwang (天益网), a website favored by academics and public intellectuals, will close down part of its operation between May 25 and June 5. Zhongguo Siweiwang (中国思维网), a website that hosts commentaries as well as books on social and political issues, will also be closed for a week starting from May 25. Additionally, a total of nearly 160 sites have been closed for “system maintenance” around the date of June 4. (CHRD)[ii]
Guizhou Human Rights Forum Members Pressured for Commemorating 20th Anniversary of June 4
A number of members of the Guiyang Human Rights Forum have been detained, questioned, or placed under house arrest in the days leading up to June 4th. On May 22, members of the Forum gathered for a lecture at Guiyang City’s Hebin Park to commemorate the approaching 20th anniversary of the June 4th massacre. Around noon, a group of police officers arrived and took away Mo Jiangang (莫建刚), questioning him at the Hebin Public Security Bureau substation for six hours before releasing him around 6 pm. Huang Yanming (黄燕明), Liao Shuangyuan (廖双元) were detained by members of the National Security Unit under the Guiyang PSB, and are currently under “soft detention” at their homes. Finally, Chen Xi (陈西) and Shen Youlian (申有连) have been placed under house arrest and were unable to join the lecture. (CHRD)[iii]
Sichuan Activist Zhao Yuanhui Placed under Police Surveillance
Zhao Yuanhui (赵元辉), a businesswoman who became involved with democratic activists in her home of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, has been living under tight police surveillance since early May. Two National Security officers have been observed monitoring Zhao and her family, in what activists with knowledge of the situation believe to be heightened police interest around June 4. Zhao has made a name for herself in the activist community in Chengdu for her generous financial support of democratic activists and involvement in democratic activities. (CHRD)[iv]
Freedom of Expression
Heilongjiang Officials Pursuing Source of Reports about Abuse and Detention of Petitioner
According to reports from Heilongjiang’s Yichun City, Dailing District Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers are in the process of investigating and pursuing potential sources of information about the case of petitioner Chen Qingxia (陈庆霞) (for information about her case, please see here). Last month, the vice-director of the Dailing District PSB traveled to Xian, Shaanxi, to question Chen’s niece, a graduate student, to see if she had been posting information about the case online. It is being reported that PSB officials, angered and embarrassed by the publicizing of their office’s illegal activities, have already decided to detain the individuals they deem responsible for the information. (CHRD)[v]
Hu Xingdou Wins Milestone Lawsuit against Internet Company for Website Closure
In what his lawyer Zhang Xingshui (张星水) called a “milestone”, Beijing’s Daxing District Court ruled in favor of Beijing academic Hu Xingdou (胡星斗) in his suit against Beijing’s Xinwang Company, his internet service provider. Hu filed the suit on March 30 after Xinwang closed his website for a day, claiming that he had posted “illegal content”. The court ruled that Xinwang failed to provide proof that the content of Hu’s site was “illegal information”, and that they had not properly notified Hu or allowed him to make corrections to his site. Another of Hu’s lawyers, Wang Haiyang (汪海洋), sees this decision as setting an important precedent, and believes that in the future service providers will be forced to abide more closely with regulations before closing an individual’s site. (CHRD)[vi]
Party Discipline and Supervision Official Criticizes Charter 08, Threatens 3 Prominent Signatories
On May 22, Central Committee Political Bureau Standing Committee member Li Changchun (李长春), representing the National Discipline and Supervision apparatus of the Party, spoke before a working group on Charter 08, declaring it to “attack the central authorities” and “attempt to overturn the socialist system.” In his speech, Li singled out three individuals as having a “negative influence”: Sha Yexin (沙叶新), Xu Youyu (徐友渔), and Liu Junning (刘军宁), all celebrated scholars and signatories of Charter 08. Li called for their departmental leaders to carry out serious investigations of the three and demanded they withdraw their signatures, threatening that if they did not comply they would face the loss of their positions or termination of their employment. (CHRD)[vii]
Website of Magazine Advocating Democratic Reforms Blocked
On May 22, the website of the magazine Huangyanchunqiu, http://www.yhcqw.com, was briefly blocked. It has since reopened. In 2008, Huangyanchunqiu began publishing a number of articles commemorating Reform and Opening, honoring the memory of late reformist leader Zhao Ziyang (赵紫阳), and advocating the implementation of a democratic constitutional government. The print edition of Huangyanchunqiu had previously been ordered closed for reorganization by officials from the Ministry of Culture, who also demanded that the leadership of the magazine be replaced. The magazine was founded in 1991 under the direction of Xiao Ke (萧克) and Zhang Aiping (张爱萍) as an outlet for members of a pro-democracy faction within the Communist Party. (CHRD)[viii]
Persecution of Activists
Lawyers Face Revocation of their Licenses for Defending Human Rights
CHRD learned on May 25 that law firms employing some of the most vocal human rights lawyers in China have been pressed by the local authorities to “fail” the lawyers in the annual evaluation of their performances. If this happens, as the lawyers fear it will, at least twenty lawyers will not have their licenses to practice law renewed by the judicial authorities when the evaluation concludes on May 31. The lawyers have been able to ascertain that the law firms where they are currently employed have been given directives and warned by their respective judicial and administrative departments and their lawyers associations. The lawyers have also reported that while their colleagues have been asked by their firms to fill in the required paperwork to process the license renewal application, they have not been approached. (CHRD)[ix]
Activist Summoned Again for Signing Charter 08
Around 11 am on May 22, Guilin City, Guangxi Province activist Li Zhiyou (李志友) was taken away from her home by a group of plainclothes policemen. The police, who did not present any written summons or other documentation, took him to a local police station, where, after waiting for a number of hours, he was questioned about Charter 08 and other related issues. (CHRD)[x]
Seven Remain in Detention for February Court Protest in Chengdu
CHRD learned on May 18 that seven individuals remain in detention after a February 23 protest outside of Chengdu Intermediate Court (more information here). The seven, Huang Xiaomin (黄晓敏), Xing Qingxian (幸清贤), Lu Daqun (陆大椿), Yan Wenhan (严文汉), Zeng Rongkang (曾荣康), and two others whose names are unknown, have all been arrested and charged with suspicion of “disrupting social order”. Following the widespread media coverage of the protest in February, the Party Central Discipline Committee and the Supreme Court each sent work teams to Chengdu to punish individuals who took had taken part in the action, especially those who provided photographs or information about the demonstration to international media. (CHRD)[xi]
Hunan Dissident Li Zhuoxi Detained by Police
Charter 08 signatory Li Zhouxi (李卓熹), a rights activist from Changsha City, Hunan Province, lost contact with his friends in early May. After repeated inquiries, they were able to ascertain that he had been detained by police in Changsha, and that he is currently being held at Changsha’s Number One Detention Center. Li was most recently active as a Hunan organizer of the proposed group Citizens’ Association for Government Oversight (公民监政会), and friends believe that his detention is likely related to this work as well as the upcoming anniversary of the June 4th massacre. Li was previously detained by police for printing T-shirts decrying the shoddy construction of collapsed schools in the Sichuan earthquake zones, which he observed when he traveled to the area to provide aid in the aftermath of the quake. (CHRD)[xii]
Henan Activist Seized in Beijing, Forcibly Returned Home
On the afternoon of May 24, Henan activist Cai Aimin (蔡爱民) was seized in Beijing and forcibly returned to Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. Cai had traveled from Zhengzhou to the capital on May 21 to report on corruption among village officials and improper confiscation of villagers’ farmland. This was Cai’s 136th attempt to persuade central officials to address the case. A longtime activist and petitioner, Cai was sentenced to one year and nine months to Re-Education through Labor in the summer of 2007 for “disturbing public security.” (CHRD)[xiii]
Forced Demolition Representative Detained for Petitioning
On May 19, a group of representatives of villagers who face forced demolition from Sanhekou Village, Beihai City, Guangxi Province, met with a group of local officials led by the vice chief of the Beihai Letters and Visits Office in Beijing. The representatives were persuaded to return home by the officials, who promised to resolve the issue. Upon their return, the representatives were detained for three hours at the Beihai PSB. Pang Wei (庞伟), one of the representatives, has been detained for “disturbing the order of public places”. The other representatives have been released. (CHRD)[xiv]
Rights activist Zhang Zilin Remains Detained after Prison Sentence Expires
Although Zhang Zilin (张子霖), a rights activist from Hunan Province, should have been released from prison on May 29 after completing his prison sentence for fraud and extortion, police warned his family and friends that it would not be necessary to travel to Jishou prison to meet him on that day. The authorities told Zhang’s friend and fellow activist, Xie Fulin (谢福林) that Zhang would not be returning home until the middle of June. It is believed that Zhang’s extended imprisonment is related to the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4 this year. (CHRD)[xv]
Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment
Heilongjiang Husband and Wife Sent to Re-education through Labor, Tortured
CHRD learned on May 18 that Xu Qiumei (徐秋梅) and her husband Wang Changshan (王长山), workers at the Red Border Farm in Heilongjiang Province’s Beian Agricultural Cultivation Area who began petitioning when their son was left disabled after being beaten by his teacher at school, were sent to a year and a half of Re-education through Labor (RTL) in August 2007 by the Beian Military Farm Bureau PSB. The two were seized in Beijing by interceptors from Beian and returned home before being sent to RTL. Wang was held at the Beian Huayuan RTL Camp, while Xu was sent to the Heilongjiang Women’s RTL Camp. Xu, who was released in February 2009, was forced to sit on a “tiger bench” on two occasions during her time in RTL, and has reportedly been subjected to harassment and persecution at the hands of police since being released. “Tiger bench” is a common method of torture used by the Chinese authorities where the torture victim is made to sit upright on a long bench, her hands tied behind her back. Her thighs are fastened with a rope to the bench while her feet are raised off the floor by bricks placed under her feet. This puts extreme strain on the knees and is a very painful form of torture, especially for an extended period of time (CHRD)[xvi]
Nanjing Students Protest Beating of Student by Urban Inspection Officials
Around 6 in the evening on May 18, urban inspection (chengguan) officers in Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province smashed a small stand set up by Aviation and Aerospace University students at the intersection of Jiangjun Road and Shengtai Road near their university’s campus, pursuing the students as they scattered. The more than 20 officers set about seizing students and forcing them into waiting vehicles, and one female student who could not outrun the officers was caught and violently beaten. The student, whose name is not known, was taken to the hospital. As news of the incident spread through the university, more than a thousand students and local residents gathered to protest the officers’ actions, blocking the gates to the school until around 10 in the evening. (CHRD)[xvii]
Charter 08 Signatory Liu Shasha Beaten by Cadres Assigned to Monitor Her
On the evening of May 21, Liu Shasha (刘沙沙), a Henan democratic activist and Charter 08 signatory who has been under 24-hour surveillance at her work unit since April 4, was beaten by security guard responsible for monitoring her at China Petro’s Nanyang Oilfield Number One Oil Plant. Liu had gone to an internet cafe to post information online related to workers’ rights and, after a short time, the guard arrived and began to quarrel with Liu. A friend of Liu’s who was talking with her online at the time reported hearing the sounds of a fight and of Liu being beaten. Liu was seized and briefly interrogated by Nanyang City police on April 4 after distributing copies of Charter 08 in the streets before being turned over to her work unit for surveillance. (CHRD)[xviii]
Hubei Teacher Beaten, Detained for Photographing Gathering outside Hospital
On May 20, Jianli County, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province teacher Hu Silie (胡思烈) passed away following a medical mishap at Jianli People’s Hospital. Around 5 pm that following afternoon, May 21, Hu’s colleague Gao Xiao (高潇) arrived at the hospital, where a large crowd had gathered and more than 100 police officers were stationed. Gao took out his camera and began taking pictures, and was immediately thrown to the ground by police, who confiscated his camera and took him away in a police vehicle. While in transit, Gao was beaten and threatened by police officers and then dragged to a detention center, where he was interrogated before finally being released at 11 pm that night. (CHRD)[xix]
Family of Imprisoned Activist Chen Guangcheng Denied Visiting Rights
On May 23, the family of imprisoned Linyi City, Shandong Province human rights defender Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚) was prevented from visiting with Chen by officials at Linyi Prison, who claimed that the measure was taken “to prevent the spread of the flu”. Chen’s family is increasingly worried about his health following a May 16 phone call in which Chen stated that his serious gastrointestinal problems, which have plagued him for nearly a year, have gotten much worse after a brief period of improvement. Chen reports that prison officials have used the excuse that they are waiting for instructions from higher officials to explain why he is being denied proper medical attention. Chen’s family was last able to visit him on April 27. For more information on Chen’s medical problems while imprisoned, please see here. (CHRD)[xx]
Prison Guards Bar Family of Heilongjiang Rights Activist Yang Chunlin from Visit
On May 27, visiting day at Xianglan Prison, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, the family of imprisoned land rights activist Yang Chunlin (杨春林) was prevented from visiting him. After family members registered at the prison, they were told by the authorities that they could not visit Yang due to regulations from “higher authorities”. Yang’s sister also told CRLW that the living conditions at the prison are very poor, and that prisoners are fed inadequate and poor food. (CRLW)[xxi]
Hunan Petitioner Yi Zhengguo Severely Beaten in Beijing
On May 14 at around 4pm, petitioner Yi Zhengguo (易正国), from Zhuzhou City, Henan Province, was badly beaten by three men allegedly hired by the Zhuzhou government while petitioning in Beijing. The men then kidnapped and forcibly returned Yi to Zhuzhou. Yi was finally released on May 25 after having been administratively detained for 10 days and fined a total of RMB 500. Yi was punished for, according to the authorities, beating Chen Wei (陈伟), one of the men whom Yi accused of having assaulted him. (CHRD)[xxii]
Freedom of Association
Hundreds Protest against Corruption at Tea Plantation; One Protestor Killed by Police
On May 23, nearly a thousand protestors gathered at the police station under the Yinghong Town PSB in Yingde City, Guangdong Province, to protest about local corruption and unfair treatment. The protestors were met by a large group of anti-riot policemen. The protestors reportedly clashed with the policemen and one female protestor was critically injured and later died; several others were injured and some were taken into detention. The exact numbers are difficult to determine because of heightened internet controls in place locally. The protestors reportedly hurled rocks at the police and burned two police vehicles.
The protestors are Chinese who returned from Vietnam during the Sino-Vietnam War and who settled down at Yinghong Tea Plantation. According to the protestors, for thirty years they have faced discrimination in access to land and benefits promised to them have not materialized due to official corruption. On May 22, four of their representatives were intercepted while petitioning and were later detained. Their detention sparked anger among the returnees, who proceeded to the police station, where the four were held, to seek an official explanation for their detention. (CHRD)[xxiii]
Workers’ Rights
Workers Protest Company’s Move to Vietnam
Since May 25, hundreds of workers at Shenzhen’s Jiasite Metal and Plastics Company have blocked the entrance to the company to protest its decision to move to Vietnam. The workers allege that the company owes them back wages for May. Because their contracts have not yet expired, the company also owes the workers compensation according to the law. A number of workers who suffered work-related illnesses also demand that the company pays for their medical expenses. (CRLW)[xxiv]
Housing Rights
Military Police Deployed by Local Authorities to Force Villagers to Sell Land
On May 25, about 300 military policemen marched into Yili Village, Yigui Street Office, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province and reportedly visited each family in the village, forcing them to sign papers authorizing the sale of their land to the local government. Many villagers had been unwilling to sell because they believed they would not receive compensation from the authorities. (CHRD)[xxv]
Right to Participate in Government
Procedures Violated in Election Re-run in Hubei Village
On May 26, the authorities in Penglu village, Qianjiang City, Hubei Province, reportedly failed to follow proper procedures during recent village elections. Instead of voting at a dedicated location at a dedicated time, voters were asked to vote at their homes, and they were given benefits or intimidated into voting for a certain candidate. Over ten villagers were unable to vote because the authorities “ran out of ballots”. This election was a re-run of a previous election held on November 20, 2008, the result of which was cancelled due to serious violations of election procedures. (CHRD)[xxvi]
Citizens’ Actions
Officials across the Country Take Action against Citizens for Following Case of Deng Yujiao
The case of Deng Yujiao (邓玉娇), an employee at a Yesanguan Town, Badong County, Hubei Province leisure center who is being charged with using excessive force to defend herself after allegedly killing an official who demanded she perform sexual acts, has generated widespread attention in recent weeks and a number of citizens across the country have been harassed by police or other officials for trying to investigate the case or show their support for Deng.
- On May 28, two journalists were beaten and their belongings taken away from them while they were reporting on the case of Deng Yujiao. The journalists were Kong Pu (孔璞) from the Beijing News (新京报) and Wei Yi (卫毅) from Southern People’s Weekly (南方人物周刊). Kong and Wei were interviewing Deng’s grandmother when a group of men, who claimed to be officials of Yesanguan Town, accused the journalists of “damaging” the town’s image and proceeded to beat the journalists. (CHRD)[xxvii]
- On May 28, five rights activists from Beijing were forcibly taken away by the local police from a hostel in Yesanguan Town, Badong County, Hubei Province, where they had been staying while conducting investigation into the case of Deng Yujiao. The head of the town PSB forced the activists into a car, and then forced them out somewhere in between Badong County and Yichang City in the middle of the night. The day before, on May 27, the five were threatened, subjected to searches and asked to leave the town by the local party and government authorities. (CHRD)[xxviii]
- On May 28, about ten Beijing netizens were taken into custody at Dazhongsi Police Station, Haidian District, Beijing after they gathered at the Hubei Province Beijing Liaison Office to protest about the case of Deng Yujiao. The netizens were all released the same day. (CHRD)[xxix]
In the face of this persecution, citizens have also made attempts to rally the public to support Deng:
- On May 27, Zhang Dajun (张大军) and Wang Lihong (王荔蕻), two rights activists from Beijing published a public appeal calling on citizens across the country to visit Hubei authorities in their local areas, to express their concern for truth and procedural justice for the case of Deng Yujiao.
Former 1989 Participant Attempts to Submit Application to Commemorate Tiananmen Massacre
On May 25, Zhou Tuo (周舵), a participant in the 1989 pro-democracy protests, was prevented from submitting an application to hold a protest to commemorate the Tiananmen Massacre to the Beijing PSB in accordance to the Law of the PRC on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations. Zhou has been held in “soft detention” at home by the police and barred from going out since he attempted to submit this application. (CHRD) [xxx]
Law and Policy Watch
Party Central Committee Adopts Regulations on Official Accountability
The Central Committee of the Communist Party Political Bureau held a meeting on May 22 chaired by General Secretary Hu Jintao (胡锦涛)in which it adopted three regulations, “Temporary Regulations Regarding Party and Government Cadre Accountability”, “Chinese Communist Party Inspection Tour Work Regulations (Test),” and “Regulations on State-owned Enterprise Leaders’ Honesty”. The three are part of recent government efforts to address systemic corruption throughout the Party and government. While efforts to combat corruption and increase accountability in any form are always welcomed, CHRD is concerned that yet another set of official declarations will have little effect on the situation across the country; only when citizens are allowed to become involved and an effective civil society can supervise the work of businesses and officials will the problem be fully addressed. (Sina)[xxxi]
One Month In, Hangzhou “Real Name” Internet Registration Regulations Abandoned
As reported earlier, Hangzhou City adopted a new set of internet regulations on May 1, requiring internet users to register with their real name and identification numbers when establishing blogs, posting on internet forums, or otherwise using internet services. These regulations were the first of their kind in China and were anxiously watched by netizens as a potential test case for wider-scale actions. According to a May 23 Xinhua report, however, the new regulations have been all but ignored nearly one month after they were put into place, with internet service providers not requiring the information stipulated by the regulations. An official from the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee’s Publicity Office said that internet companies were only “encouraged” to use the real-name registration system, and that legislation is not an effective way to put this sort of policy into place. (Xinhua)[xxxii]
Editors: Wang Songlian and David Smalls
[i] “Police Detain and Harass Activists on Eve of Tiananmen Anniversary”, June 3, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200906/20090604135136_15718.html
[ii] “Some Websites Run by the Civil Society Closed on Eve of June Fourth <六四前夕一些民间网站遭整肃>”, May 29, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090529100359_15623.html
[iii] “Guizhou Human Rights Forum Members Beaten for Holding Event Commemorating 20th Anniversary of June 4 (贵州人权研讨会举行”六四”二十周年纪念活动遭打)”, May 22, 2009, 压https://www.nchrd.org/Article/liusi/200905/20090522210635_15539.html
[iv] “Sichuan Democratic Activist Zhao Yuanhui under Surveillance for Half a Month Already (四川民主人士赵元辉被监控已达半月)”, May 20, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090520012233_15489.html
[v] “Dailing District, Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province PSB Begin Cross-Provincial Search for Source of Information Published Online about Chen Qingxia (黑龙江伊春市带岭区公安局跨省追捕通过互联网披露陈庆霞案消息者)”, May 18, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090518214450_15466.html
[vi] “Professor Hu Xingdou Wins Lawsuit against Internet Service Provider over Site Closure (胡星斗教授因网站被封，起诉服务商胜诉)”, May 21, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090521212743_15521.html
[vii] “Authorities Continue to Crack Down on Charter 08 Signatories; Three Celebrated Scholars Singled out for Rectification (当局持续打压《零八宪章》签署人 三位著名学者遭点名整肃)”, May 22, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200905/20090522104000_15534.html
[viii] “‘Yanhuangchunqiu’ Website Closed, ‘Yanhuangchunqiu’ Magazine Ordered to Reorganize (炎黄春秋网站被屏蔽 《炎黄春秋》杂志遭整肃)”, May 20, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090520012233_15489.html
[ix] “Lawyers Face Revocation of their Licenses for Defending Human Rights”, May 25, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200905/20090526010330_15582.html
[x] “Most Recent Situation of Summoned ‘Charter 08’ Signatory and Activist Li Zhiyou 《零八宪章》签署人维权人士李志友被传唤最新情况)”, May 23, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200905/20090523143727_15550.html
[xi] “Number of Arrested in Chengdu Intermediate Court Protest Case Reaches Seven (成都中院抗议案件被抓增至七人)”, May 18, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090518153609_15464.html
[xii] “Hunan Dissident and Activist Li Zhouxi Detained by Police (湖南异议维权人士李卓熹被警方拘押 )”, May 22, 2009 https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090522001048_15526.html
[xiii] “Bulletin: Cai Aimin Caught (快讯：蔡爱民被抓)”, May 24, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090524220816_15561.html
[xiv] “Representative of anti-demolition petitioners is imprisoned in Beihai” (广西北海因强拆而上访的代表被刑拘) May 27 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/qzcq/200905/20090527004932_15593.html
[xv] “To avoid “6.4”, rights activist Zhang Zilin is is detained beyond the expiry of his sentence (为避开”六四”维权人士张子霖刑满被警方秘密羁押）May 29 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/zhangzilin/200905/20090529183209_15633.html
[xvi] “Xu Qiumei and Husband of Heilongjiang Beian Agricultural Area Sent to RTL for Petitioning; Son Disappears (黑龙江北安农垦徐秋梅夫妇上访双双被劳教，儿子不知去向)”, May 18, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090518193820_15465.html
[xvii] “Nanjing Urban Inspection Officers Violently Beat Female University Student for Setting up a Stall, Leading More than a Thousand to Protest (南京城管暴力殴打南航摆摊女生引起上千人抗议)”, May 20, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090520012117_15488.html
[xviii] “‘Charter 08’ Signatory Liu Shasha Beaten by Security Cadre from Work Unit (《零八宪章》签署人刘沙沙遭所在单位保卫干部殴打)”, May 22, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200905/20090522010149_15528.html
[xix] “Man Photographing Scene of Medical Mishap Beaten, Summoned by Police “(医疗事故现场 拍照人被殴打传唤)”, May 23, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class7/200905/20090523001923_15543.html
[xx] “Shandong Activist Chen Guangcheng’s Health Continues to Worsen in Prison, Family Denied Visiting Rights (山东维权人士陈光诚在狱中病情恶化，不让家人会见)”, May 24, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/Class51/200905/20090524164013_15560.html
[xxi] “Prison guards ban the family of Heilongjiang rights activist Yang Chunlin from visiting him” (黑龙江维权人士杨春林被禁止家人探监) May 27 2009 https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/yangchunlin/200905/20090527160330_15603.html
[xxii] “Justice activist Yi Zhengguo suffers severe beating in Hunan（湖南株洲冤民易正国遭殴打) May 27 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200905/20090527004726_15594.html
[xxiii] “Guangdong Yingde City Yinghong Town Returnees Violently Suppressed for Protesting <广东英德市英红镇华侨维权抗议被暴力镇压>”, May 25, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090525010106_15567.html
[xxiv] Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch (CRLW), “Shenzhen Jiasite Metal and Plastics Factory Move to Vietnam Sparks Workers’ Strike <深圳贾斯特五金塑胶公司转厂越南引发工潮>”, May 26, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090526165210_15585.html
[xxv] “The Military Enter Village to Force Villagers to Sign Papers to Sell Land <军队进村逼迫农民签名卖地>”, May 25, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/qzcq/200905/20090525225906_15575.html
[xxvi] “Flagrant Violations of Procedures in Grassroots Election Village Praised by the Government <受政府表彰的基层选举村公然违法选举>”, May 26, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class55/200905/20090526234608_15591.html
[xxvii] “Badong Sanyeguan Falls into Horror <巴东野三关陷入一遍恐怖之中>”, May 28, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090528203439_15619.html
[xxviii] “Beijing Rights Activists Zhou Li and Others were Dumped in the Middle of Nowhere by Head of Sanyeguan Police Station <北京维权人士周莉等被野三关派出所所长抛于荒山野岭>”, May 29, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090529221408_15635.html; CHRD, “Rights Activists who Went to Badong are Subjected to Room Searches in the Middle of the Night and their Water was Cut off <前往巴东的维权人士半夜被查房、停水>”, May 28, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090528121802_15616.html
[xxix] “10 Beijing Activists Detained in Police Station for Supporting Deng Yujiao <北京10名声援邓玉娇的维权人士被押入派出所>”, May 28, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090528181818_15618.html
[xxx] “Zhou Tuo Submitted Today a Protest Application to Commemorate June Fourth <周舵今日提交纪念六四《游行示威申请书》>”, May 25, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/liusi/200905/20090525145315_15572.html
[xxxi] “Political Bureau Adopts Official Accountability Regulations (政治局审议通过领导干部问责暂行规定)”, May 22, 2009, http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2009-05-22/180117871309.shtml
[xxxii] “Difficulties Implementing China’s First Internet ‘Real-name’ Registration Regulation Law中国首部”网络实名”法律遭遇执行难)”, May 23, 2009, http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2009-05/23/content_11421951.htm
[1] “Police Detain and Harass Activists on Eve of Tiananmen Anniversary”, June 3, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200906/20090604135136_15718.html
[1] “Some Websites Run by the Civil Society Closed on Eve of June Fourth <六四前夕一些民间网站遭整肃>”, May 29, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090529100359_15623.html
[1] “Guizhou Human Rights Forum Members Beaten for Holding Event Commemorating 20th Anniversary of June 4 (贵州人权研讨会举行”六四”二十周年纪念活动遭打)”, May 22, 2009, 压https://www.nchrd.org/Article/liusi/200905/20090522210635_15539.html
[1] “Sichuan Democratic Activist Zhao Yuanhui under Surveillance for Half a Month Already (四川民主人士赵元辉被监控已达半月)”, May 20, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090520012233_15489.html
[1] “Dailing District, Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province PSB Begin Cross-Provincial Search for Source of Information Published Online about Chen Qingxia (黑龙江伊春市带岭区公安局跨省追捕通过互联网披露陈庆霞案消息者)”, May 18, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090518214450_15466.html
[1] “Professor Hu Xingdou Wins Lawsuit against Internet Service Provider over Site Closure (胡星斗教授因网站被封，起诉服务商胜诉)”, May 21, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090521212743_15521.html
[1] “Authorities Continue to Crack Down on Charter 08 Signatories; Three Celebrated Scholars Singled out for Rectification (当局持续打压《零八宪章》签署人 三位著名学者遭点名整肃)”, May 22, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200905/20090522104000_15534.html
[1] “‘Yanhuangchunqiu’ Website Closed, ‘Yanhuangchunqiu’ Magazine Ordered to Reorganize (炎黄春秋网站被屏蔽 《炎黄春秋》杂志遭整肃)”, May 20, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090520012233_15489.html
[1] “Lawyers Face Revocation of their Licenses for Defending Human Rights”, May 25, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class9/Class10/200905/20090526010330_15582.html
[1] “Most Recent Situation of Summoned ‘Charter 08’ Signatory and Activist Li Zhiyou 《零八宪章》签署人维权人士李志友被传唤最新情况)”, May 23, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200905/20090523143727_15550.html
[1] “Number of Arrested in Chengdu Intermediate Court Protest Case Reaches Seven (成都中院抗议案件被抓增至七人)”, May 18, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090518153609_15464.html
[1] “Hunan Dissident and Activist Li Zhouxi Detained by Police (湖南异议维权人士李卓熹被警方拘押 )”, May 22, 2009 https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090522001048_15526.html
[1] “Bulletin: Cai Aimin Caught (快讯：蔡爱民被抓)”, May 24, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090524220816_15561.html
[1] “Representative of anti-demolition petitioners is imprisoned in Beihai” (广西北海因强拆而上访的代表被刑拘) May 27 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/qzcq/200905/20090527004932_15593.html
[1] “To avoid “6.4”, rights activist Zhang Zilin is is detained beyond the expiry of his sentence (为避开”六四”维权人士张子霖刑满被警方秘密羁押）May 29 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/zhangzilin/200905/20090529183209_15633.html
[1] “Xu Qiumei and Husband of Heilongjiang Beian Agricultural Area Sent to RTL for Petitioning; Son Disappears (黑龙江北安农垦徐秋梅夫妇上访双双被劳教，儿子不知去向)”, May 18, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090518193820_15465.html
[1] “Nanjing Urban Inspection Officers Violently Beat Female University Student for Setting up a Stall, Leading More than a Thousand to Protest (南京城管暴力殴打南航摆摊女生引起上千人抗议)”, May 20, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090520012117_15488.html
[1] “‘Charter 08’ Signatory Liu Shasha Beaten by Security Cadre from Work Unit (《零八宪章》签署人刘沙沙遭所在单位保卫干部殴打)”, May 22, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200905/20090522010149_15528.html
[1] “Man Photographing Scene of Medical Mishap Beaten, Summoned by Police “(医疗事故现场 拍照人被殴打传唤)”, May 23, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class7/200905/20090523001923_15543.html
[1] “Shandong Activist Chen Guangcheng’s Health Continues to Worsen in Prison, Family Denied Visiting Rights (山东维权人士陈光诚在狱中病情恶化，不让家人会见)”, May 24, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/Class51/200905/20090524164013_15560.html
[1] “Prison guards ban the family of Heilongjiang rights activist Yang Chunlin from visiting him” (黑龙江维权人士杨春林被禁止家人探监) May 27 2009 https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class18/yangchunlin/200905/20090527160330_15603.html
[1] “Justice activist Yi Zhengguo suffers severe beating in Hunan（湖南株洲冤民易正国遭殴打) May 27 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/200905/20090527004726_15594.html
[1] “Guangdong Yingde City Yinghong Town Returnees Violently Suppressed for Protesting <广东英德市英红镇华侨维权抗议被暴力镇压>”, May 25, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090525010106_15567.html
[1] Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch (CRLW), “Shenzhen Jiasite Metal and Plastics Factory Move to Vietnam Sparks Workers’ Strike <深圳贾斯特五金塑胶公司转厂越南引发工潮>”, May 26, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090526165210_15585.html
[1] “The Military Enter Village to Force Villagers to Sign Papers to Sell Land <军队进村逼迫农民签名卖地>”, May 25, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/fmzj/qzcq/200905/20090525225906_15575.html
[1] “Flagrant Violations of Procedures in Grassroots Election Village Praised by the Government <受政府表彰的基层选举村公然违法选举>”, May 26, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class55/200905/20090526234608_15591.html
[1] “Badong Sanyeguan Falls into Horror <巴东野三关陷入一遍恐怖之中>”, May 28, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090528203439_15619.html
[1] “Beijing Rights Activists Zhou Li and Others were Dumped in the Middle of Nowhere by Head of Sanyeguan Police Station <北京维权人士周莉等被野三关派出所所长抛于荒山野岭>”, May 29, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090529221408_15635.html; CHRD, “Rights Activists who Went to Badong are Subjected to Room Searches in the Middle of the Night and their Water was Cut off <前往巴东的维权人士半夜被查房、停水>”, May 28, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090528121802_15616.html
[1] “10 Beijing Activists Detained in Police Station for Supporting Deng Yujiao <北京10名声援邓玉娇的维权人士被押入派出所>”, May 28, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/Class53/200905/20090528181818_15618.html
[1] “Zhou Tuo Submitted Today a Protest Application to Commemorate June Fourth <周舵今日提交纪念六四《游行示威申请书》>”, May 25, 2009, https://www.nchrd.org/Article/liusi/200905/20090525145315_15572.html
[1] “Political Bureau Adopts Official Accountability Regulations (政治局审议通过领导干部问责暂行规定)”, May 22, 2009, http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2009-05-22/180117871309.shtml
[1] “Difficulties Implementing China’s First Internet ‘Real-name’ Registration Regulation Law中国首部”网络实名”法律遭遇执行难)”, May 23, 2009, http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2009-05/23/content_11421951.htm