[CHRB] Police Arrest Activist Seeking Transparency on Human Rights Action Plan; Tibetan Students Protest “Patriotic Education”; and more (11/24-11/28, 2012)

November 30, 2012       Comments Off on [CHRB] Police Arrest Activist Seeking Transparency on Human Rights Action Plan; Tibetan Students Protest “Patriotic Education”; and more (11/24-11/28, 2012)

China Human Rights Briefing

November 24-28, 2012

Contents

Arbitrary Detention

• Police Arrest Activist Who Led Efforts to Demand Transparency for Implementation of “National Human Rights Action Plan”

Harassment of Activists

• Police Raid Home of Hangzhou Dissident, Question Him About Letter to Xi Jinping

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly 

• Tibetan Students Protest “Patriotic Education”

Freedom of Association

• Xi’an Authorities Shut Down Salon on University Campus

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment & Punishment

• Former Nanjing Official Given 10-Year Sentence After Tortured Confession, Has Waged Appeal

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Arbitrary Detention

Police Arrest Activist Who Led Efforts to Demand Transparency for Implementation of “National Human Rights Action Plan”

Hunan activist Peng Lanlan (彭兰岚), who was seized in Beijing and reportedly tortured in August, has been formally arrested on a charge of “obstructing official business.” The charge stems from Peng’s attempt to collect signatures on a petition asking the government to disclose information about implementing the country’s second “National Human Rights Action Plan.” Though an arrest notice was issued on October 31, Peng’s family only received the document on November 19, and never did receive a criminal detention notice. Police reportedly tortured Peng by tying her to a “tiger bench”^* after taking her into custody on August 13. That day, officers also dragged away more than a dozen activists en route to the State Council Information Office to hand over the application, later releasing the others. Peng, who has gone to Beijing to petition authorities about a personal matter which she considered unfairly handled by local officials, is being held at the Dongcheng District Detention Center.[1]

Harassment of Activists

Police Raid Home of Hangzhou Dissident, Question Him About Letter to Xi Jinping

Police in Hangzhou have questioned Lü Gengsong (吕耿松), the dissident writer and China Democracy Party (CDP) member, over a letter to Chinese central leaders, and also confiscated property during a search of his home. On November 23, national security officers surrounded Lü’s residence when petitioners were visiting him, and then entered and summoned Lü to a police station. Officers searched Lü’s residence and confiscated several items, including two computers. While in police custody for 10 hours, Lü was mainly questioned about an open letter drafted by CDP’s Zhejiang chapter to China’s new head Xi Jinping (习近平) and also Zhang Dejiang (张德江), who was appointed to the Politburo Standing Committee at the Party Congress this month. Among other points, the letter calls for checking political power in order to curb corruption and for the release of imprisoned CDP member Zhu Yufu (朱虞夫).[2]

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly 

Tibetan Students Protest “Patriotic Education”

Thousands of Tibetan students at a medical school in Qinghai Province recently protested the distribution of a political questionnaire and “patriotic education” sessions that contained disparaging remarks about the Dalai Lama. On November 26, the protest erupted in Hainan (Tibetan: Tsolho) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture after questionnaires were given to medical students that asked politically-charged questions, including “What is the nature of self-immolation?” and “What are the consequences of illegal demonstrations and gatherings?” (A full English translation of the questionnaire is here.) Students were also given lectures about the questionnaire that condemned the so-called “Dalai splittist clique.” In their protest, students called for “equality of nationalities,” “language freedom,” “respect for truth,” and the “establishment of a new government.” Armed police arrived two hours after the protest broke out, used tear gas to disperse students and indiscriminately beat them. About 20 students suffered injuries, including four who are reportedly in serious condition. At the time of writing, armed police and military forces were surrounding the school, and communication channels to the area were blocked.[3]

Freedom of Association

Xi’an Authorities Shut Down Salon on University Campus

School authorities demanded cancellation of a salon where students and professors would discuss Western political theories at Northwest University of Politics and Law on November 24. University officials did not give any reason when they abruptly ordered Professor Chen Hongguo (谌红果) not to hold the third salon in a series that he had organized while also forbidding other professors and students from attending. Professor Chen posted the order and expressed his views on academic freedom on his microblog, which attracted much public attention and support. In defiance, the salon was held as originally scheduled, and attended by dozens of students and supporters. Earlier in November, Professor Chen had organized two salons that were very popular among students, which analysts say may have unnerved authorities.[4]

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment & Punishment

Former Nanjing Official Given 10-Year Sentence After Tortured Confession, Has Waged Appeal

Cao Xuejun (曹学军), a former official from Nanjing taken into custody three and a half years ago, was tortured into confessing to a bribery charge and given a 10-year sentence in 2010 in a case now under appeal. Anti-corruption officials from Qinhuai District took Cao into custody in April of 2009, and he was arrested the next month. For 10 days, Cao was constantly interrogated and subjected to other cruel treatment and torture; he was slapped in the face and hit in the head, and was forced to stand or squat for long periods. Cao consequently suffered two heart attacks and, afraid for his life, admitted to a bribery offense. When Cao was tried by the Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court in May of 2010, his repeated appeals against the charges were ignored, and he was prevented from meeting with his lawyer. Threatened to be sent back to interrogators—who may have tortured him further—Cao again admitted to charges against him and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Cao, who previously was a department director involved in real estate development in Nanjing, appealed the ruling, and second-instance trial proceedings are underway.[5]

Edited by Ann Song and Victor Clemens