AI URGENT ACTION: Chinese human rights activist facing trial

Human rights activist Wang Lihong was detained in Beijing, China on 21 April, and could face trial as soon as next month. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate has not given her lawyer full access to documents related to her case. Wang Lihong is suffering from chronic back pain and is at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Wang Lihong, 56, was taken from her home by nine police officers on 21 March 2011 as part of a wave of detentions sparked by the Jasmine protests in the Middle East and North Africa. Police searched her home and confiscated her personal computer. On 21 April, Beijing Chaoyang District Police told her family she had been formally arrested under suspicion of “assembling a crowd to block traffic or undermine traffic order” and was detained at Beijing Chaoyang District Police Detention Centre. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison.

On 15 July 2011, her lawyer, Han Yicun, receivedconfirmation from the Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Procuratorate that she would be charged with “assembling a crowd to block traffic or undermine traffic order”, based on her participation in a peaceful protest in April 2010 in support of three Fujian internet activists charged with defamation for posting questions online about an alleged police cover-up in the death of a young woman.

According to Wang Lihong’s lawyer, Han Yicun, police had limited the number of times lawyers could visit her in policedetention and the Procuratorate was not allowing lawyers to access all case documents, violating legal provisions on lawyers’ rights to access their clients and documents related to the case.  

Her lawyer visited her on 8 July and reported that she is suffering from chronic back pain. Though she has access to necessary medicine, she appeared weak and her health had deteriorated after nearly four months in detention.  

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English, Chinese or your own language:

Call on authorities to release Wang Lihong immediately and unconditionally unless the authorities can show reasonable grounds for suspecting her of having committed an internationally-recognizable criminal offence;

Urge the authorities to ensure Wang Lihong has access to family, legal representation of her choice, and any medical care she may require;

Urge the authorities to guarantee Wang Lihong will not be tortured or ill-treated while in custody;

Urge the authorities to take effective measures to guarantee freedom of expression, association and assembly in line with China’s constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which China has signed and declared an intention to ratify.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 SEPTEMBER 2011 TO:

Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau

Fu Zhenghua Juzhang

Beijingshi Gong'anju

9 Dongdajie, Qianmen

Dongchengqu

Beijingshi 100740

People's Republic of China

Fax: +86 10 65242927

Salutation: Dear Director

Chief Procurator of the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate

Mu Ping Jianchazhang

Beijingshi Renmin Jianchayuan

12 Shijingshanlu

Shijingshanqu

Beijingshi 100040

People's Republic of China

Salutation: Dear Procurator

And copies to:

Premier

WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli

The State Council General Office

2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu,

Beijingshi 100017,

People's Republic of China

Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION

chinese human rights activist facing trial

ADditional Information

Wang Lihong, 56, is a widely known human rights activist who often visits petitioners and provides food and clothes for those living on thestreet waiting to seek justice. She also frequently moves in with activists under police surveillance in order to provide them with emotional support. She has visited the wives of detained activists to help them with cooking and child care, and often has helped them find financial support and secure legal aid for their spouses. “Her support is always timely and practical, and she is always on the frontline of human rights!”, activists launching a campaign for her release said. Shewent straight to Chen Guangcheng’s village after he was released and placed under illegal house arrest and allegedly beaten. She wrote 23 letters to the Fujian government to lobby for the release of three internet activists when they were being held for posting questions online about an alleged police cover-up in the death of a young woman.

Amnesty International issued a web action on Wang Lihong on 5 May2011 (see: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/china%E2%80%99s-jasmine-acti…). Many activists in China are campaigning for Wang Lihong’s release. Wang Lihong reportedly once said, “If I remain silent in the face of suffering and evil, then the next evil that should be struck down is myself.”

Name: Wang Lihong

Gender m/f: F

UA: 230/11 Index: ASA 17/038/2011 Issue Date: 27 July 2011

 Also See Free Wang Lihong (王荔蕻)