Alerts & Statements | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

Chinese Government, Having Failed to Honor its Previous Commitments, Has Disqualified Itself for UN Human Rights Council

May 8, 2009 Comments Off

Chinese Government, Having Failed to Honor its Previous Commitments, Has Disqualified Itself for UN Human Rights Council Chinese Human Rights Defenders May 8, 2009 On May 12, 2009, the 63rd UN General Assembly will decide in a secret ballot of all member states if China, among other candidates seeking to (read more…)

One Year after Earthquake, Silence Imposed on Schoolchildren Deaths, Activists Harassed

May 4, 2009 Comments Off

One Year after Earthquake, Silence Imposed on Schoolchildren Deaths, Activists Harassed Chinese Human Rights Defenders May 4, 2009 As the first anniversary of the devastating May 12 Sichuan Earthquake approaches, parents of children who died buried under collapsed schools have found little solace as officials continue to obstruct efforts to (read more…)

China’s “Human Rights Action Plan”: Long Awaited, Short in Substance

April 20, 2009 Comments Off

China’s “Human Rights Action Plan”: Long Awaited, Short in Substance On April 13, the State Council Information Office issued China’s first National Human Rights Action Plan (available in English here). While CHRD welcomes the promulgation of this document, which undoubtedly marks one step forward in the Chinese government’s changing attitude (read more…)

Beijing Lawyer Cheng Hai Assaulted by Officials for Representing Falun Going Practitioner

April 14, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, April 14, 2009) – In the early morning hours of April 13, Beijing lawyer Cheng Hai (程海) was attacked and beaten while on his way to meet with a client in Chengdu. According to Cheng, those responsible for the attack were officials from the Jinyang General (read more…)

Shandong Professor Assaulted for Commemorating Reformist Leader Zhao Ziyang

April 6, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, April 6, 2009) – Sun Wenguang (孙文广), a 75-year-old retired Shandong University professor and vocal dissident based in Jinan City, Shandong Province, was severely beaten on April 5 by a group of unidentified men on his way to the local cemetery to commemorate the life of (read more…)

Sichuan Activist Detained before Earthquake Anniversary

April 1, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, April 1, 2009) – 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”, CHRD learned today. It is believed that Tan was detained for mobilizing volunteers to conduct an independent investigation of (read more…)

Beijing Dissident Jiang Qisheng Summoned, Home Searched: Police Actions Stepped Up in Advance of Anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre

March 31, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 31, 2009) – This morning, Jiang Qisheng (江棋生), a former 1989 prisoner, dissident writer, and vice-chairman of Independent Chinese PEN, was taken away from his home and interrogated by police. Officers searched his home and confiscated 3 computers, bank cards, many books, notebooks, and manuscripts. (read more…)

Beating and Detention of Petitioner Latest in Series of Heilongjiang Abuses

March 27, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 27, 2009) – CHRD learned today the story of Chen Jinxia (陈金霞, aka Chen Qingxia [陈庆霞]), a petitioner from Dailing District, Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, who has suffered nearly two years of arbitrary detention since she was first intercepted on April 24, 2007. Over the (read more…)

Sichuan Authorities Strike Hard on Rights Activists to Maintain “Stability”

March 24, 2009 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 24, 2009) – CHRD learned today that police in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, have detained four Sichuan activists and summoned (chuanhuan) more than ten in an effort to punish local human rights defenders for taking part in and reporting on two recent demonstrations. In Chongqing Municipality, (read more…)

Abuses against Petitioners Contradict Message of ‘Openness’ at Annual Session of China’s Legislature

March 18, 2009 Comments Off

Abuses against Petitioners Contradict Message of ‘Openness’ at Annual Session of China’s Legislature (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 18, 2009) – Systematic persecution of petitioners has become an annual feature of the joint session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National People’s Political Consultative Conference (NPPCC). During this (read more…)

“Soft Detention” of Yuan Weijing Continues: Journalist Beaten, Barred from Meeting

March 11, 2009 Comments Off

“Soft Detention” of Yuan Weijing Continues: Journalist Beaten, Barred from Meeting (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 10, 2009) –Yuan Weijing (袁伟静), the wife of imprisoned rights activist Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚), remains confined to her home and surrounded by guards. On March 8, a prominent investigative journalist and his student were (read more…)

Months before Tiananmen Anniversary, China Refuses Entry to Exiled Student Leader

March 10, 2009 Comments Off

Months before Tiananmen Anniversary, China Refuses Entry to Exiled Student Leader (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, March 9, 2009) – Yi Danxuan (易丹轩), a former student leader in Guangzhou during the 1989 pro-democracy movement, was denied entry into China on March 7. Yi, now an American citizen, was barred from entering (read more…)