China Human Rights Briefing August 23-28, 2011
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August 23-28, 2011
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Highlights
- Updates on Detentions and Disappearances Related to the “Jasmine Revolution” Crackdown: The procuratorate has sent back the “creating a disturbance” case against Beijing lawyer Ni Yulan (倪玉兰), who was also charged with fraud, and her husband Dong Jiqin (董继勤). Their daughter further reports that her parents are in fragile states in detention.
- Sichuan Activist From “Chained Gate” Case Released: On August 27, Huang Xiaomin (黄晓敏), a Sichuan-based organizer for the China Pan-Blue Alliance, was released from prison on August 27. Now home in Chengdu City, Huang is in good spirits but has various physical ailments after getting poor medical treatment in prison.
Contents
Arbitrary Detention
• Updates on Detentions and Disappearances Related to the “Jasmine Revolution” Crackdown
Ni Yulan, Dong Jiqin Case Sent Back for Investigation, Couple Suffering in Prison
• Anhui Police Issue Administrative Detention to Online Journalist
• Sichuan Activist Released From Prison, In Good Spirits But Poor Health
• Xi’an Villagers Demand Release of Petitioners
• Hubei Authorities Detaining Teacher in Black Jail for Nearly Four Months
• Jiangsu Petitioner Seized & Reportedly Tortured, Still Out of Contact
• Fujian Rights Defender Detained for Seeking Justice for Crewmen’s Families
• Anhui Police Detain Family Members Opposing Work at Residential Land
• Guangdong Petitioner Freed After 6-Month Black Jail Detention
Harassment of Activists
• Fuzhou Authorities Seize Wang Lihong Supporters
• Anhui Student Netizen Released After Questioning, Risks School Expulsion
• Beijing Authorities Take Away Shandong Dissident’s Mother
Forced Eviction and Demolition/Land Expropriation
• Three Gorges Dam Refugees Uncompensated After Years of Petitioning
Freedom of Expression and of Access to Information
• Chengdu Authorities Block Blog With Articles on Demolition Case
Local NPC Election Watch
• Guangzhou Authorities Strip NPC Candidate of Electoral Qualifications
• Guangzhou University Obstructs Student’s Candidacy
________________________________________
Arbitrary Detention
Updates on Detentions and Disappearances Related to the “Jasmine Revolution” Crackdown
Ni Yulan, Dong Jiqin Case Sent Back for Investigation, Couple Suffering in Prison
CHRD has learned that, on August 2, the Xicheng Procuratorate sent back to the police for further investigation the “creating a disturbance” case against Beijing lawyer Ni Yulan (倪玉兰), who was also charged with fraud, and her husband Dong Jiqin (董继勤). The two have been held in the Xicheng Detention Center since April, and their daughter, Dong Beibei (董贝贝), said that Ni is in low spirits and Dong Jiqin is not doing well physically. Ni’s lawyer had requested she be released on medical parole due to her health—Ni cannot walk and has medical problems due to past torture suffered in detention—but authorities have not responded. Dong Beibei also indicated she has not received several letters her father has written and that she is being closely monitored by the Beijing police. (CHRD)[i]
Anhui Police Issue Administrative Detention to Online Journalist
On August 21, police from Xinzhan District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, took into custody a journalist who goes by the name Bingyu (宾语), and issued him a 10-day administrative detention for allegedly “fabricating facts to disrupt public order.” Earlier this month, Bingyu had posted articles on his blog that focused on violent forced eviction and demolition in Hefei City reportedly conducted under the direction of local officials. The day he was taken into custody, Bingyu was called in for questioning to the Xinzhan branch of the Hefei Public Security Bureau (PSB). After he told the police that he would not speak to them unless they produce a written summons, officers filled out a summons that evening. Bingyu was then taken away and went out of contact. On August 22, his family received a call from police indicating he had been detained. When they arrived at the police station, they were told that nobody, including lawyers, was allowed to visit Bingyu. (CHRD)[ii]
Sichuan Activist Released From Prison, In Good Spirits But Poor Health
On August 27, Huang Xiaomin (黄晓敏), a Sichuan-based organizer for the China Democracy Party originally from Xinjiang, was released from Leshan Prison and returned to his home in Chengdu City. Although he’s reportedly in good spirits, Huang is dealing with various physical ailments, including muscle atrophy in his left leg, and has said he did not receive good medical treatment in prison. He was released a few days before the end of his original sentence was due to expire. Huang was criminally detained in February of 2009 in the “chained gate” case, so called because 10 activists chained themselves together in peaceful protest over what they believed to be unfair rulings by the Chengdu City Intermediate People’s Court. Huang was sentenced that September to two-and-a-half years in prison for “assembling a crowd to disrupt social order,” though it is believed that he, like a number of other defendants in the case, were convicted because they documented and reported on human rights violations, particularly to foreign media. (CHRD)[iii]
Xi’an Villagers Demand Release of Petitioners
On August 23, more than 200 villagers from Zhangbagou Subdistrict in Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, went to the provincial government building to demand the release of two fellow residents who remain detained after being taken into custody on July 22. On that day in July, Zhangbagou villagers petitioned at the Shaanxi Provincial government building over compensation for requisitioned land and home demolitions. Officials from Gaoxin District and the Zhangbagou Subdistrict as well as many police officers came to disperse the crowd. Six villagers were taken directly to the Zhangbagou Police Station on suspicion of “disrupting social order.” Four of them were released by early August, but Zhang Shao’e (张少鄂), who has diabetes and heart disease, is still being held at the Xi’an Ankang Hospital, and Liang Shuixia (梁水霞) is being detained the Xi’an No. 2 Detention Center. (CHRD)[iv]
Hubei Authorities Detaining Teacher in Black Jail for Nearly Four Months
Authorities have held Yao Xueyuan (姚学元), a 70-year-old teachers’ representative from Yicheng City, Hubei Province, for nearly four months in a “black jail.” Yao, who has presented grievances on behalf of fellow teachers at “minban schools” (schools not operated by the state), is being held at the former tax office in Nanyun Township in Yicheng City. Two others, petitioners Xiong Zhongyou (熊忠友) and Jing Minguo (景民国), are believed to be detained with Yao. (CRLW)[v]
Jiangsu Petitioner Seized & Reportedly Tortured, Still Out of Contact
CHRD has learned that, on August 19, authorities seized Ji Dawu (吉大伍), a petitioner from Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, and have tortured him, according to his wife, Ma Shijuan (马士娟). On the day he was taken away, Ji was able to contact Ma and said he was seized by a number of individuals claimed to be policemen from Donghai County and was being held and monitored in a local guesthouse. His cell phone cut off while he was talking, and Ji has since been out of contact. Ma made several inquiries and learned that her husband had reportedly been deprived of sleep for five nights and forced to write a guarantee saying he would stop petitioning. The couple has petitioned over the 2002 demolition of their home, which took place without advanced notice or compensation having been arranged. (CHRD)[vi]
Fujian Rights Defender Detained for Seeking Justice for Crewmen’s Families
On August 26, authorities formally arrested Li Xiangmou (李祥谋), a ship captain from Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, on suspicion of “organizing others to secretly cross the national border” in a case tied to a 2008 maritime accident off the coast of Indonesia. On August 24, authorities reportedly demanded families whose loved ones died in the incident sign a settlement. But the agreement failed to spell out the Yuanyang Fishery Group Company’s responsibility for mistakes that led to the mishap, so the families have been preparing to petition. Li, the captain when the incident took place, has repeatedly approached various agencies to seek a just settlement and accountability for the families. Due to his efforts, Li had been detained for over a year before being released on bail in April of 2010, and then was subjected to residential surveillance for six months. Suspecting him of organizing the family members to petition, police had placed him under 24-hour surveillance in a hotel since July 21 before arresting him on August 26. Li is now being detained at the Shishi City Detention Center in Quanzhou City. (CHRD)[vii]
Anhui Police Detain Family Members Opposing Work at Residential Land
CHRD has learned that, on August 24, police from the Baohe branch of the Hefei City PSB criminally detained three family members in Binhuxin District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, for “sabotaging production or business operations.” That day, Hu Xianzheng (胡先正), Hu Shaocai (胡召才), and Hu Shaochun (胡召春) attempted to block construction work by a real estate company near where their demolished home once stood. Police who came to the scene saw the disruption and took the men to the police station. The three are being held at the Hefei PSB No. 2 Detention Center. Family members had previously petitioned the local government after their home was destroyed in 2008—contending the demolition and relocation were illegal and the compensation inadequate—and since then the government has left the land unoccupied. (CHRD)[viii]
Harassment of Activists
Guangdong Petitioner Freed After 6-Month Black Jail Detention
On August 27, Yang Yamei (杨亚美), a petitioner from Wujiang District, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, was released from a black jail after being illegally detained for nearly six months. Authorities have not returned her hukou book and identification card, however, and directors of the local Letters and Visits Office and justice bureau have threatened her, warning her not to leave her home, and for her and husband to stop petitioning. Yang was initially detained in early March, when she and her husband, He Mingzheng (何明政), were trying to present a grievance to the State Bureau for Letters and Visits in Beijing over a land requisition issue from 2006 involving corruption by local officials. After being intercepted and taken back to Guangdong, Wang was held in a room which belongs to the Wujiang District government until her release. Authorities also detained her husband for nearly two months, but he was let go after suffering a heart attack. (CHRD)[ix]
Fuzhou Authorities Seize Wang Lihong Supporters
On August 23, authorities in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province took away several individuals from a group of nearly 20 who had gathered in support of Beijing activist Wang Lihong (王荔蕻) in front of the Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court and also in the city’s May 1st Square. Chengmen Town officials blocked the supporters at the square and then took some away, including Lin Lanying (林兰英), Lin Xiangguan (林祥官), and Lin Yigen (林依银), while the fates of others could not be confirmed. Earlier this month, Wang was tried on a charge of “creating a disturbance” that stemmed from her role in leading protests outside the Fuzhou court’s sentencing hearing of the “Fujian Three” netizens in April 2010. Others supporters on hand include Lin Xiuying (林秀英), the mother of Yan Xiaoling (严晓玲), who was raped and killed in 2009 by thugs allegedly linked to the Fujian police, and Wu Huaying (吴华英), one of the Fujian netizens imprisoned for defamation after publicizing Yan’s case online. (CHRD)[x]
Anhui Student Netizen Released After Questioning, Risks School Expulsion
CHRD has learned that the university student and netizen Zheng Tao (郑涛, aka @LuoFee [罗非]), from Hefei City, Anhui Province, has returned home and is safe after being questioned by police earlier this week, according to an activist who has been in touch with him. According to Zheng, Hefei City Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers took him away on August 21 in relation to a netizen friend of his who is now in prison. (Zheng himself had suspected police questioned him because of his April 19 visit with the Beijing netizen-writer Hu Di [胡荻], who is being held at a psychiatric institution in Hefei.) The activist believes that Zheng is still under some police pressure. A student at the Anhui Institute of International Business, Zheng has nearly been expelled after being questioned numerous times by officers since March for promoting ways to evade China’s “Great Firewall” and participating in events involving the Beijing artist Ai Weiwei (艾未未). (CHRD)[xi]
Forced Eviction and Demolition/Land Expropriation
Beijing Authorities Take Away Shandong Dissident’s Mother
On August 24, authorities in Beijing took away Wang Shuqing (王书清), a petitioner and the mother of Xue Mingkai (薛明凯), Qufu City, a pro-democracy dissident from Qufu City, Shandong Province. Wang and her husband, Xue Fushun (薛夫顺), had been petitioning at the Letters and Visits Department of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Ministry when Wang was beaten and dragged off, and her fate and whereabouts remain unknown. They have actively petitioned over the detention of Xue Mingkai, who was formally arrested for “inciting subversion of state power” in February, and is being held at the Jining City Detention Center. The parents were also beaten in late June after trying to petition the Supreme People’s Procuratorate about their son’s criminal detention as well as beatings Wang endured during a stint in Re-education through Labor. (CRLW)[xii]
Three Gorges Dam Refugees Uncompensated After Years of Petitioning
CHRD learned on August 24 that despite years of petitioning, more than 20 families from Wanzhou District, Chongqing Municipality, have gone uncompensated after their homes were demolished in 2005 as part of the Three Gorges Dam construction project, according to one of the individuals affected. In 2002, the local government demanded the Wanzhou residents leave their homes, and cut off their water and electricity, though regulations indicated that relocations should have started only in 2006. The families have not received compensation since their homes were demolished, and are now either renting apartments or living temporarily with relatives. They have repeatedly petitioned various agencies, including the State Bureau for Letters and Visits in Beijing and the Three Gorges Project Construction Committee, but authorities have not assumed responsibility while instead monitoring, threatening and detaining them in black jails. (CHRD)[xiii]
Freedom of Expression and of Access to Information
Chengdu Authorities Block Blog With Articles on Demolition Case
CHRD has learned that authorities have blocked a blog maintained by Wang Hui (王慧), of Shuangliu District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, who was posting articles about the criminal case against her husband, Huang Wenwei (黄文伟), which stems from the 2010 demolition of their home. On August 18, Wang saw a message when she tried to log on to her NetEase (网易) blog indicating that it contains content which breaches the relevant internet regulations, and is banned. It is suspected the local government has pressured the company to censor Wang’s views, reacting to increased media attention to the case and fearing the backlash of public opinion.
On March 30, Huang Wenwei was criminally detained for “endangering public safety” after he tried to prevent government personnel from clearing remains of his family’s home by driving a car into them. In late June, a court found the home’s destruction was illegal, but the government has denied criminal responsibility while pursuing the case against Huang. (CHRD)[xiv]
Local NPC Election Watch
Guangzhou Authorities Strip NPC Candidate of Electoral Qualifications
On August 24, when the list of preliminary candidates for the People’s Congress election in Panyu District, Guangzhou City, was announced, independent candidate Liang Shuxin (梁树新) did not find his name on it, even though he met all the requirements to run in the election. This follows authorities’ harassment of his recommenders in an effort to have them abandon their support of Liang. On August 23, the Lijiang Subdistrict Election Office demanded that Liang’s recommenders re-sign a joint election form in-person, and also give information about their place of employment. Some who revealed where they work were told by superiors to rescind their recommendation of Liang. Two of Liang’s recommenders even quit their jobs outside of Lijiang to safeguard his candidacy after a government notice was issued stating that individuals are ineligible to take part in an election if they work outside their electoral district. Despite the harassment, Liang still had 18 recommenders, thus exceeding the official requirement of 10. On August 25, Liang released an open letter about the harassment and electoral abuses that have taken place. (CHRD)[xv]
Guangzhou University Obstructs Student’s Candidacy
On August 24, student Ye Ruili (叶瑞立), who had gathered more than 1,000 recommendations for his candidacy for the People’s Congress election for Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, had his candidacy obstructed by his university. When Ye went to register for candidacy on that day, the Guangzhou University of Foreign Studies announced it would not accept his registration as they want “a non-partisan female elite intellectual” to get elected, thus seemingly disqualifying Ye. But when Ye insisted to be registered, the school then demanded that at least 10 of Ye’s recommenders come to the registration area by 10 p.m. to confirm their support, or else all the signatures gathered for his candidacy would be invalidated. Ye and his friends sent online messages about the obstacles they had faced, and after some recommenders came to register, the school abruptly required the recommenders go to their respective institutes to register instead, preventing them from confirming their support by the stated deadline. The status of Ye’s candidacy was not clear as of the time of writing. (CHRD)[xvi]
Editors of this issue: Victor Clemens and Songlian Wang
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News updates from CHRD
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[i] “Ni Yulan and Husband’s Case Sent Back to Public Security Branch Bureau for Further Investigation,” (倪玉兰夫妇案件被退回公安分局补充侦查), August 28, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_753.html; “Ni Yulan and Husband’s Case Transferred to Procuratorate, ‘Fraud’ Charge Added,” (倪玉兰夫妇案移送检 察院，再增“诈骗”罪), July 21, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post_8706.html; “Arrests of Rights Defense Lawyer Ni Yulan and Husband Both Confirmed, Family Has Not Received Formal Notice,” (倪玉兰夫妇双双被捕，亲属未收到法律文书), June 9, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post_09.html; “News Flash: Arrest of Human Rights Lawyer Ni Yulan Approved” (快讯：维权律师倪玉兰被批准逮捕), May 17, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post_4735.html
[ii] “Hefei Mill Anesthetic Incident Investigation,” (合肥磨店麻醉针事件之调查), August 28, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_3061.html; “Journalist Bingyu Detained Disseminating Reports on ‘Forced Demolitions,’” (记者宾语发博文报道“强拆”事件被拘留), August 25, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_7435.html
[iii] “Huang Xiaomin Out of Prison But Health Poor, Maintains Strong Beliefs,” (黄晓敏出狱身体欠佳，坚称信念不改), August 27, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_5980.html; “Alert: Rights Defender Huang Xiaomin Released From Prison,” (快讯：维权人士黄晓敏出狱), August 26, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_2462.html; “Defendants in ‘chained gate’ case are convicted and their verdicts announced, lawyers and families decry illegality,” (“链子门”案件有罪宣判 律师家属均指非法), September 28, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2010/09/201009281221.shtml
[iv] “Zhangbagou Village Petitioners in Xi’an Demand Release of Detained Villagers,” (西安丈八沟村民上访要求释放被拘村民), August 23, 2011,
http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_8952.html
[v] “Community Teacher-Representative Not Released After Several Months in Yicheng, Hubei ‘Black Jail’,” (湖北省宜城市“黑监狱”关押民办教师代表数月不放), August 25, 2011, http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=14572
[vi] “Husband of Jiangsu Petitioner Ma Shijuan Kidnapped, Tortured,” (江苏访民马士娟的丈夫被绑架遭受酷刑), August 24, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_27.html?spref=tw
[vii] “Rights Defender Li Xiangmou Detained Again for ‘Organizing Others to Illegally Crossing Vietnamese Border’,” (维权人士李祥谋被以“组织他人偷越国边境”再次逮捕), August 27, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_2012.html
[viii] “Hefei Binhuxin District Use Criminal Detentions to Go Forward With Demolitions,” (合肥滨湖新区滥用刑 事拘留推进拆迁), August 25, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_2084.html
[ix] “Guangdong Petitioner Yang Yamei Released After Half-Year Detention in Black Jail,” (广东访民杨亚美被关黑监狱半年后 获释), August 28, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_9704.html; “Petitioner Yang Yamei Held Over 100 Days in Black Jail,” (访民杨亚美被关黑监狱一百余天未获释), July 14, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post_3829.html
[x] “Fujian Group Reiterates Support for Wang Lihong at Scene of 4/16 Verdict, Several Rights Defenders Taken Away,” (福建关注团重返”4.16″现场声援王荔蕻 多位维权人士被抓走), August 23, 2011, http://rightscampaign.blogspot.com/2011/08/23.html; “Over 10 Fujian Rights Defenders Go to Fuzhou Intermediate Court, Protest Authorities’ Framing of Wang Lihong,” (福建10余维权人士到福州中 院前抗议当局陷构王荔蕻女士), August 23, 2011, http://rightscampaign.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_7681.html
[xi] “Anhui University Student Zheng Tao Questioned & ‘Drinks Tea,’ At Risk of Expulsion,” (安徽大学生郑涛被传唤、“喝茶”，面临被开除危险), August 24, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_2388.html; “Hefei Twitter Friend Luo Fei Taken Away by Police and Has Not Returned Home, Had Visited Hu Di,” (探访胡荻的合肥推友 罗非被警察带走至今未归), August 21, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_4233.html; “Netizen Friend Goes to Hefei No. 4 Hospital to Visit ‘Mentally Ill’ Hu Di,” (网友前往合肥第四医院探访“精神病人”胡荻), August 19, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_2442.html
[xii] “Mother of Shandong Dissident Xue Mingkai Again Taken Away,” (山东异议人士薛明凯的妈妈再次被抓走), August 27, 2011, http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=14584; “Parents of Shandong Dissident Xue Mingkai Are Beaten While Petitioning in Beijing,” (山东异议人士薛明凯父母北京上访遭多次殴打), July 2, 2011, http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=14401; “Wang Shuqing, Mother of Shandong Democracy Youth Xue Mingkai, Is Beaten and Taken to Hospital,” (山东民主青年薛明凯的母亲王书清被警方打伤住院), February 2, 2011, http://peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2011/02/201102021159.shtml; “Xue Mingkai, of Shandong, Loses Job; Mother Sent to RTL” (山东薛明凯失掉工作，母亲被劳教), January 5, 2010, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2011/01/201101051120.shtml
[xiii] “Three Gorges Refugees Uncompensated After 9 Years of Petitioning,” (三峡移民未获补偿 上访9年未果), August 24, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/9.html
[xiv] “NetEase User Blacklisted After Writing About Own Case,” (网易用户写自己的案例被封杀), August 24, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_2934.html; “Belated Justice—Course of Forced Demolition of Wang Hui’s Home in Shuangliu, Chengdu,”
(迟来的正义——成都双流王慧家被强拆的过程), July 12, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post_9042.html; “Chengdu Resident Huang Wenwei, Who Resisted Demolition, Charged With ‘Intentional Injury,’” (抵制强拆的成都市民黄文伟被指控“故意伤害”), July 12, 2011,http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post_9000.html
[xv] “Liang Shuxin, Guangzhou Independent Candidate, Releases Open Letter on Illegalities by Panyu District Election Committee Members,” (广州独立参选人梁树新就番禺区选举委员会公然违法发表公开信), August 24, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_1075.html; “Joint Recommenders Quit Jobs to Support People’s Congress Candidate Liang Shuxin,” (联名推荐人辞职支持梁树新参选人 大代表), August 24, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_8627.html; “Guangzhou Electoral Districts Conduct Investigation, Make Things Difficult for Recommenders of NPC Candidates,” (广州各选区审查、刁难人大代表参 选者的联名推荐人), August 23, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog- post_3271.html
[xvi] “NPC Representative Candidacy of Guangzhou Foreign Language University Student Ye Ruili Obstructed,” (广州外国语大学大学生叶瑞立参选人大代表遭阻扰), August 24, 2011, http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_2004.html