China Human Rights Briefing April 6-12, 2011

April 15, 2011 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Weekly

April 6-12, 2011

To download this week’s CHRB as a .pdf file, please click here

Highlights

“Jasmine” Crackdown Continues as Veteran Activist Zhu Yufu is Arrested: Pro-democracy activist Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫) was formally arrested this week for “inciting subversion of state power” by officials in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Zhu is the fifth activist overall, and the first outside of Sichuan Province, to be formally arrested during the “Jasmine Revolution” crackdown. As of April 12, a total of 38 individuals have been criminally detained in the crackdown, and 16 remain missing.

Contents

Arbitrary Detention

Updates on Detentions and Disappearances Related to the “Jasmine Revolution” Crackdown
Petitioners Seized at Sentencing of Liu Xianbin Face Criminal Detention

Freedom of Religion

Police in Beijing Disrupt Meeting of House Church, Seize Worshippers

Harassment of Activists

Police Search Home of Chengdu Activist Ling Yi, Confiscate Computer

Arbitrary Detention

Updates on Detentions and Disappearances Related to the “Jasmine Revolution” Crackdown

On April 11, the Hangzhou City Procuratorate approved the arrest of Zhejiang Province-based democracy activist Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫) for “inciting subversion of state power.” Zhu, who is currently being held in the Shangcheng District Detention Center in Hangzhou, was criminally detained for “inciting subversion of state power” on March 5. He is the first individual outside of Sichuan Province to be formally arrested as part of the “Jasmine Revolution” crackdown. A longtime activist and founder of the China Democracy Party (CDP), Zhu spent seven years in prison for “subversion of state power” following the 1998 crackdown on the CDP. He was imprisoned for a second time between 2007 and 2009.[i]
CHRD has learned that Beijing-based housing rights activist Ni Yulan (倪玉兰) and her husband Dong Jiqin (董继勤), missing since April 7, are currently being detained in the Xicheng Detention Center in Beijing’s Haidian District. Family members discovered Ni and Dong’s whereabouts after contacting police on April 11; however, officers have yet to provide the family with any formal documentation which might authorize the couple’s detention. The precise reason for their detention, and potential length of their detention, are not currently known.[ii]
On April 8, CHRD learned that Beijing-based activist Wei Qiang (魏强) has been sent to two years of Re-education through Labor (RTL) in his home province of Shaanxi. Wei is being held at the Baota District RTL Camp in Shaanxi’s Yan’an City. Wei’s parents traveled to Beijing to inquire into the whereabouts of their son, who was criminally detained in the capital on February 25 on suspicion of participating in an “illegal demonstration.” They were told he had been sent back to Yan’an, and when Wei’s parents contacted local officials, they learned that Wei had already been sent to RTL. Wei’s parents have yet to receive any documentation which might authorize the decision to send their son to RTL; reportedly, Wei was forcibly returned to Yan’an on March 25 and almost immediately sent to RTL.[iii]
CHRD learned on April 10 that activist Liu Guohui (刘国慧), of Linyi City, Shandong Province, is currently living at home under residential surveillance. Liu, missing since March 10, was criminally detained on March 11 on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power” and held in the Linyi City Detention Center. Her family never received any legal documentation notifying them of her detention. She was released on bail to await trial on April 8.[iv]
CHRD learned on April 11 that Shanghai-based petitioners Tan Lanying (谈兰英), Yang Lamei (杨腊梅), and Guo Yigui (郭谊贵) have been released from criminal detention. The three were seized on February 20 and held on suspicion of “assembling a crowd to disrupt the order of a public place.” Tan and Yang were released on March 23, while Guo was released on February 25. The three, all veteran petitioners, were separately taken into custody by police at a site in Shanghai identified in online postings calling for “Jasmine Revolution” protests, though there is no indication the three knew anything about the protests.[v]
CHRD learned on April 9 that police in Mianyang City, Sichuan Province, have blocked meetings between detained democracy activist Ding Mao (丁茅) and a lawyer hired for him by his family. According to Ding’s wife, officials in Mianyang claimed that Ding’s case “involves state secrets.” Ding was formally arrested on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power” on March 25, and has yet to meet with his lawyer.[vi]

Around one o’clock in the morning on April 7, police burst into the Beijing hotel room where housing rights activist Ni Yulan (倪玉兰) and her husband Dong Jiqin (董继勤) have been living and took the couple away. Ni, a former lawyer, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in 2008 for resisting the forced demolition of her home; since her release from prison on April 15, 2010, Ni and her husband have lived on the street or in guesthouses because their home was forcibly demolished. She and Dong have been staying at the Yuxingong Guesthouse since the summer of 2010, and their hotel room has become a meeting place for petitioners and human rights lawyers in Beijing. During that time, police repeatedly pressured hotel management to turn off the electricity, internet, and water in an attempt to force the couple out. Ni has been very vocal on Twitter protesting the current crackdown.[vii]
On April 7, Ran Tong (冉彤), lawyer for detained Chengdu legal aid worker Li Shuangde (李双德), was notified that his request for his client’s release on bail to await trial had been denied. Li remains detained in the Chengdu City Detention Center in Sichuan Province. He was formally arrested on April 2 for “credit card fraud” after being taken away by police on March 21.[viii]
On April 6, Beijing-based rights activist Li Yongsheng (李永生) was released on bail to await trial and returned home. Li had been criminally detained at the Taihu District Detention Center in Tongzhou District, Beijing, since March 6 on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.”[ix]
On April 6, Beijing-based democracy activist Li Hai (李海) returned home after being released on bail to await trial. Li was seized on February 26 and held in the Chaoyang District Detention Center in Beijing on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.”[x]
CHRD learned on April 6 that Wen Tao (文涛), former journalist and assistant to Ai Weiwei (艾未未), has been missing since April 3. Wen was seized by plainclothes police officers outside of his girlfriend’s home in the Caochangdi neighborhood of Beijing’s Chaoyang District on Sunday afternoon. Wen was fired from his job at the Global Times’ English-language edition for reporting on a demonstration led by artists down Chang’an Avenue in February 2010 protesting the forced demolition of a Beijing arts district.[xi]
On the afternoon of April 8, police in Beijing once again searched missing artist and activist Ai Weiwei’s (艾未未) workshop. According to witnesses, police confiscated many boxes of material following an approximately three-hour search. Ai remains missing after he was seized by police at Beijing’s Capital Airport.[xii]

As of April 12, a total of 38 individuals have been criminally detained in relation to the crackdown on the “Jasmine Revolution:”

Five— Li Shuangde (李双德), Chen Wei (陈卫), Ran Yunfei (冉云飞), Ding Mao (丁矛), and Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫)—have been formally arrested;

Two—Hua Chunhui (华春辉) and Wei Qiang (魏强)—have since been sent to Re-education through Labor;

Five—Guo Yigui (郭谊贵), Mo Jiangang (莫建刚), Pan Zhenjuan (潘振娟), Tan Lanying (谈兰英) and Yang Lamei (杨腊梅)—have been released;

Nine—Cheng Wanyun (程婉芸), Li Hai (李海), Li Yongsheng (李永生), Lan Jingyuan (兰靖远), Liu Guohui (刘国慧), Liu Huiping (刘慧萍), Weng Jie (翁杰), Zhang Jian’nan (张健男) and Zheng Chuangtian (郑创添)—have been released on bail to await trial; and

Seventeen—Liang Haiyi (梁海怡), Quan Lianzhao (全连昭), Wei Shuishan (魏水山), Sun Desheng (孙德胜), Yang Qiuyu (杨秋雨), Xie Mingkai (薛明凯), Wang Lihong (王荔蕻), Huang Xiang (黄香), Zhui Hun (追魂), Cheng Li (成力), Guo Gai (郭盖), Peng Tianhui (彭天惠), Li Renyu (李仁玉), Kan Siyun (阚思云), Li Xiaocheng (李小成), Guo Weidong (郭卫东), and Ni Yulan (倪玉兰) remain in detention.

A total of 16 individuals remain missing. They are: Jiang Tianyong (江天勇), Teng Biao (滕彪), Gu Chuan (古川), Li Tiantian (李天天), Liu Dejun (刘德军), Liu Shihui (刘士辉), Yuan Xinting (袁新亭), Lan Ruoyu (蓝若宇), Hu Di (胡荻), Zhang Haibo (张海波), Ceng Renguang (曾仁广), Zhou Li (周莉), Liu Zhengqing (刘正清), Ai Weiwei (艾未未), Wen Tao (文涛), and Dong Jiqin (董继勤).[xiii]

Petitioners Seized at Sentencing of Liu Xianbin Face Criminal Detention

CHRD learned on April 9 that three petitioners seized outside of the sentencing of Sichuan-based activist Liu Xianbin (刘贤斌) in March have been criminally detained. The three—Peng Tianhui (彭天惠), Li Renyu (李仁玉), and Kan Siyun (阚思云)—were originally returned to Chengdu City from Suining City and given seven days of administrative detention on March 28; however, instead of being released, they were then criminally detained by the Chengdu City PSB and transferred to the Chengdu City Detention Center. While the police have threatened that the three face charges of “inciting subversion of state power,” their relatives have yet to receive formal detention notices and the precise charges against the three are unclear. Peng, Li and Kan, who do not personally know Liu, were silently and peacefully demonstrating their support for him outside of the courthouse when they were taken away by police. (CHRD)[xiv]

Freedom of Religion

Police in Beijing Disrupt Meeting of House Church, Seize Worshippers

On April 10, police in Beijing prevented the members of the Shouwang House Church from holding their regular Sunday services. The church was meeting in a public area, as police pressure on the landlord of their previous meeting location as well as the developer of a piece of property the church has since bought has forced them out of those spaces. According to one member of the congregation, “nearly all” of the core members of the church were placed under soft detention or otherwise prevented from attending the service on Sunday. Though approximately 100 worshippers were able to gather, a large number of police arrived at the scene and dispersed the group, taking many away in police vehicles. (CHRD)[xv]

Harassment of Activists

Police Search Home of Chengdu Activist Ling Yi, Confiscate Computer

On the morning of April 12, police arrived at the Chengdu City, Sichuan Province home of activist and magazine editor Ling Yi (凌怡), taking her in for an interrogation. While she was being questioned, her home was searched by police officers, who confiscated her personal computer. Officers did not present a search warrant or summons, or leave a list of confiscated items. The precise nature of the questioning, or the reason her home was searched, is not currently known. Ling returned home after being interrogated for close to 14 hours, but she disappeared after contacting a few of her friends about the ordeal. Ling has been summoned and called for “tea” by local National Security officers on a number of occasions recently because of her support for imprisoned activist Liu Xianbin (刘贤斌) and participation in local “Jasmine Revolution” protests. (CHRD)[xvi]

Editors: David Smalls and Lin Sang

Follow us on Twitter: @CHRDnet

News updates from CHRD

[i] “Hangzhou Democracy Activist Zhu Yufu Formally Arrested” (杭州民主党人朱虞夫被批准逮捕), April 12, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_3408.html

[ii] “Ni Yulan, Dong Jiqin Held in Xicheng Detention Center” (倪玉兰、董继勤夫妇被羁押在西城看守所), April 11, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_12.html

[iii] “Shaanxi Activist Wei Qiang Sent to Two Years of RTL” (陕西维权人士魏强被劳教两年), April 8, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_6449.html

[iv] “Shandong Activist Liu Guohui Living under Residential Surveillance Since Being Released from Criminal Detention on Bail to Await Trial” (山东维权人士刘国慧被刑拘后取保出来监视居住), April 10, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_4822.html

[v] “Three Criminally Detained Shanghai Petitioners Released” (三位被刑事拘留的上海访民获释), April 11, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_7976.html

[vi] “Police Block Lawyer from Meeting with Mianyang Democracy Activist Ding Mao” (警方阻止律师会见绵阳民主维权人士丁茅), April 9, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_5589.html

[vii] “Ni Yulan and Husband Taken Away by Police, Residence Sealed Off” (倪玉兰夫妇凌晨被警方带走，住所被查封（图）), April 7, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_8593.html

[viii] “Chengdu Legal Worker Li Shuangde Denied Release on Bail to Await Trial” (成都法律工作者李双德取保候审被拒（图）), April 7, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_990.html

[ix] “Human Rights Activist Li Yongsheng Obtains Release on Bail to Await Trial, Returns Home” (维权人士李永生获“取保候审”回家), April 7, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_07.html

[x] “Beijing Democracy Activist Li Hai Released on Bail to Await Trial” (北京民主维权人士李海取保候审出来), April 7, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_6689.html

[xi] “Ai Weiwei and Wen Tao Still Missing Three Days After Being Taken Away by Police” (艾未未和文涛被警方带走三天仍无音讯（图）), April 6, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_7531.html

[xii] “Ai Weiwei’s Studio Searched Again” (艾未未工作室再次被查抄（图） ), April 8, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_08.html

[xiii] “Still No Information about Many Beijing People of Conscience after They Were Taken Away” (北京多位良心人士被带走后仍无消息), April 10, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_1372.html

[xiv] “Three Petitioners Criminally Detained for Surrounding and Watching Trial of Liu Xianbin” (三访民因围观刘贤斌案庭审被刑事拘留), April 9, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_328.html

[xv] “Meeting of Beijing’s Shouwang House Church Disrupted by Police” (北京守望教会聚会遭到警方阻止), April 9, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_9311.html

[xvi] “Home of Chengdu Activist ‘Disorderly Officials’ (Ling Yi) Searched” (成都维权人士上官乱（凌怡）被抄家), April 12, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post_4131.html