Alerts & Statements - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

Journalist Barred from Attending Training on UN Human Rights Mechanisms; Online Column Blocked

September 18, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, September 18, 2008)—On September 1, Zan Aizong (昝爱宗), a journalist and internet writer from Zhejiang Province, was barred from attending a training workshop on UN human rights mechanisms in Geneva. Zan’s online column on current affairs, meizhou dianping (Weekly Comments), has also been blocked by the (read more…)

Olympics Crackdown Continues as Another Activist Is Sent to Labor Camp

August 30, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 30, 2008) – On August 28, Wang Guilan (王桂兰), a petitioner and human rights activist from Enshi City, Hubei Province, was sent to fifteen months of Re-education through Labor (RTL) for “disturbing social order”. According to the authorities, Wang is being punished for accepting a (read more…)

Update on Imprisoned Activist Hu Jia and His Wife Zeng Jinyan

August 25, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 25, 2008) – CHRD learned today that imprisoned human rights defender Hu Jia (胡佳), who suffers from liver cirrhosis, has been made to perform manual labor under the hot sun for seven hours every day. Meanwhile, prison authorities have confiscated Hu’s letters to his family (read more…)

Detained AIDS Activist Quietly Sentenced After Long Delay

August 23, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 23, 2008) – On August 12, Wang Xiaoqiao (王小巧), an AIDS activist from Xincai County in Henan Province, was convicted of “extortion” and sentenced to one year in prison by Xincai County Court, Chinese Human Rights Defenders learned today. “Due to international attention to Wang’s (read more…)

CHRD Urges China to End Torture of Detained Human Rights Activist

August 22, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Heilongjiang, August 22, 2008) – The Chinese authorities must stop the torture and inhuman treatment of Liu Jie (刘杰), a human rights defender currently serving 18 months of Re-education through Labor (RTL), said Chinese Human Rights Defenders. Since Aug. 15, Liu has been subjected to a (read more…)

China Breaks Promises of Freedoms of Assembly and the Press during Olympics

August 16, 2008 Comments Off

IOC, US and EU Leaders Must End Silence on China’s Games Abuses (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Beijing, August 16, 2008) – China has punished people who give interviews or apply for permits to protest, thereby breaking its promises to allow press freedom and demonstrations at “Protest Zones” during the Olympics. (read more…)

How China Censors the Internet and Monitors Your Telecommunications

August 11, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 11, 2008) –Foreign journalists reporting on the Olympics and visitors to China may not be fully aware of the risks they pose to themselves and to Chinese citizens with whom they communicate when they discuss issues the Chinese government deems “sensitive”. CHRD’s Alternative Guide to (read more…)

Beijing Activist Zeng Jinyan Disappeared on Eve of Olympics Opening Ceremony

August 9, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 9, 2008) – Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕), a Beijing-based human rights activist, disappeared on August 7. All attempts to contact her have failed. It is feared that Zeng has been taken into police custody and might be mistreated. Zeng has been under intermittent residential surveillance for (read more…)

CHRD’s Alternative Guide to the Beijing Olympics

August 6, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 6, 2008) – As the Olympic Games open in Beijing on August 8, China stands on high national security alert. The government has turned Beijing into a fortress – with air, navy and ground forces on stand-by – and more than 30,000 surveillance cameras installed (read more…)

“Olympics Security” Crackdown Sends another Democracy Activist to Criminal Detention

August 5, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 5, 2008) –On August 2, Xie Changfa (谢长发), a member of China Democracy Party, was formally arrested on “inciting subversion of state power”. Xie becomes yet another victim of the nation-wide crackdown on activists and dissidents in the name of “Olympics security”. Xie‘s arrest came (read more…)

“Olympics Security” Crackdown Sends Veteran Democracy Activist to Criminal Detention

August 4, 2008 Comments Off

“Olympics Security” Crackdown Sends Veteran Democracy Activist to Criminal Detention (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 4, 2008) – CHRD has learned that Wang Rongqing (王荣清), a member of China Democracy Party Zhejiang Branch, has been formally arrested on “inciting subversion of state power”. [Please note this correction: Wang was formally (read more…)

Detained for Resisting Forced Eviction, Beijing Activist Ni Yulan Goes on Trial

July 29, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, July 28, 2008) – CHRD learned that Ni Yulan (倪玉兰), a Beijing-based housing rights activist and former lawyer, will be tried on August 4 for “obstructing official business” by the Beijing Xicheng Court. Ni is currently held at the Beijing Xicheng District Detention Center. Ni, 47, (read more…)