News | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

Nineteen Years on, Tiananmen Protesters Still Languish in Prison

June 3, 2008 Comments Off

Nineteen Years on, Tiananmen Protesters Still Languish in Prison China must end political persecution of participants of the 1989 demonstrations (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 3, 2008) – As the 19th anniversary of the crackdown on the Tiananmen demonstrations approaches, at least eight Beijing residents are still imprisoned for participating (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing May 16-31, 2008

May 31, 2008 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots May 16-31, 2008 HIGHLIGHTS Restrictions on civil liberties have resumed after a brief remission in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake on May 12. Authorities have ordered websites to delete postings on the disaster and have detained activists for (read more…)

Human Rights Suffer in Lead-up to China-US “Human Rights Dialogue”

May 26, 2008 Comments Off

Human Rights Suffer in Lead-up to China-US “Human Rights Dialogue” US should take necessary measures to ensure meaningful progress from Dialogue (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, May 26, 2008) – In the lead-up to meetings between Chinese and United States officials to discuss human rights in Beijing this week-the first such (read more…)

Civil Liberties under Attack after a Brief Thaw

May 23, 2008 Comments Off

Civil Liberties under Attack after a Brief Thaw China Must Respect Freedoms of Expression and Association in Wake of Earthquake (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, May 23, 2008) – Restriction on civil liberties has resumed after a brief thaw in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake on May 12. Authorities have (read more…)

Imprisoned Democracy Activist Hu Shigen to Be Released in August

May 22, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, May 22, 2008) – Hu Shigen (胡石根), imprisoned political prisoner and democracy activist, has reportedly been granted an earlier release and may leave prison as early as this August. Officials from the Legal Office of Haibin District, Beijing, contacted Mr. Hu’s friends and said his imprisonment (read more…)

Authorities Detain Internet Reporter and Host of Corruption-monitoring Website

May 21, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, May 21, 2008) – Ren Shangyan (任尚燕), Assistant Director of the corruption-monitoring website, China Justice Advocacy Web (zhonghua shenzheng wang中华申正网), was detained on May 16 while investigating a case of alleged nepotism in Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province. She has not been released. Around 4 p.m. on (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing May 1-15, 2008

May 15, 2008 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots May 1-15, 2008 HIGHLIGHTS Pollution continues to drive spontaneous demonstrations around the country. In Zhejiang, seven were injured when a thousand villagers protested against toxic gas emitted from a nearby chemical plant, while in Chengdu, four cyber-activists were arrested (read more…)

Journalist Who Exposed Corruption Gets Four Years

May 14, 2008 Comments Off

Journalist Who Exposed Corruption Gets Four Years Authorities Must Protect Journalists and Freedom of the Press (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, May 14, 2008) – Yesterday, Qi Chonghuai (齐崇淮/齐崇怀), a Legal Rule Morning Post (fazhi zaobao) reporter known for his articles exposing local corruption, was convicted of “extortion and blackmail” and (read more…)

Cyber Activists Detained for “Inciting” Anti-Pollution March in Chengdu

May 12, 2008 Comments Off

Cyber Activists Detained for “Inciting” Anti-Pollution March in Chengdu China Must End Crackdown Prior to the Olympics (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, May 12, 2008) – CHRD learned today that four cyber activists have been detained for posting articles online criticizing the construction of a chemical plant in Chengdu, capital of (read more…)

Beijing Activist Ni Yulan Arrested for Resisting Forced Demolition

May 2, 2008 Comments Off

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, May 2, 2008) – Ni Yulan (倪玉兰), a Beijing-based housing rights activist and former lawyer, was formally arrested on suspicion of “obstructing official business” by the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) Xicheng County Sub-division on April 29. Ni was detained on April 15 after she resisted (read more…)

Henan AIDS Activists Li Xige and Miaojue Cizhi Summoned by Police

May 1, 2008 Comments Off

Henan AIDS Activists Li Xige and Miaojue Cizhi Summoned by Police (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, May 1, 2008) – In the early hours of May 1, a dozen police barged into the home of Henan AIDS activist Li Xige (李喜阁) and took away Li and fellow AIDS activist Miaojue Cizhi (read more…)

China Human Rights Briefing April 15-30, 2008

April 30, 2008 Comments Off

China Human Rights Briefing Reporting human rights development from the grassroots April 15-30, 2008 Highlights Land rights: At least one died and hundreds were injured when thousands of villagers clashed with local authorities over forced land seizures in Yunnan, Hainan and Hubei Provinces. The clashes were the direct result of (read more…)