China Human Rights Briefing January 19, 2010

Headlines

• Imprisoned Lawyer and Torture Victim Wang Yonghang Meets with Lawyers for First Time
• Case Against Sichuan Activist Liu Zhengyou Transferred to Procuratorate
• Imprisoned Lawyer Li Zhuang Submits Appeal

ArbitraryDetention

ImprisonedLawyer and Torture Victim Wang Yonghang Meets with Lawyers for FirstTime

According to Yu Xiaoyan (于晓燕), thewife of imprisoned human rights lawyer Wang Yonghang (王永航), Wangwas able to meet with lawyers Lan Zhixue (兰志学) and Zhang Chuanli (张传利) onJanuary 14, 2010. The meeting, which took place at the Dalian CityDetentionCenter, is the first meeting between Wang and his lawyers since he waskidnapped by Dalian City National Security officers on July 4, 2009.During thehour and a half meeting, Wang's lawyers verified reports that Wang hadbeenviolently beaten on three occasions following his kidnapping, and thathe hadsuffered a severe ankle injury, which required surgery on August 11,2009. Lanand Zhang have submitted an appeal on behalf of their client to theDalianIntermediate Court, asking in particular that the appeals trial be heldin anopen court.  Wang, who was sentenced toseven years in prison for “using a cult to damage the implementation ofthelaw" on November 27, 2009, was tried on October 16, 2009 in a closedcourtwithout a lawyer present. Wang is a former lawyer and outspokenadvocate forthe rights of Falun Gong practitioners; he was convicted for acceptinginterviews and publishing articles on foreign websites in addition todefendingFalun Gong practitioners in court. (CHRD)[i]

CaseAgainst SichuanActivist Liu Zhengyou Transferred to Procuratorate

Lawyers for Sichuan activist Liu Zhengyou (刘正有) havetold CHRD that his case was transferred to the Ziliujing DistrictProcuratoratein Zigong City, Sichuan, on January 19, 2010. The procuratorate is tasked with reviewing the informationsubmitted bythe police and determining whether or not to proceed with prosecution.Liu wasseized on November 11, 2009, and formally arrested along with his wife,HuYulan (胡玉兰),on suspicion of "fraud" on December 7, 2009. It is believed that thecharges against the two are groundless, and are being used as a pretextbypolice seeking to retaliate against Liu and Hu for their rights-defenseactivities. In the past few years, the couple has helped localpetitioners filecomplaints, turning their home into a non-governmental “letters andvisitsoffice.” (CHRD)[ii]

LegalRights

ImprisonedLawyer Li Zhuang Submits Appeal

On January 18, Beijing lawyer Li Zhuang (李庄)submitted an appeal to the Chongqing Number One Intermediate Court,challenginghis conviction for "fabricating evidence and obstructing testimony."Li,a lawyer for alleged Chongqing mob boss Gong Gangmo (龚刚模), wassentenced to two years and six months in prison by the JiangbeiDistrictPeople's Court in Chongqing on January 8, 2010, after Gong stated thatLi hadinstructed him to lie in court that he was tortured duringinterrogation bypolice officers. According to Li's lawyer, Gao Zicheng (高子程), heis seeking to convince the court to call a number ofwitnesses—including Gongand police officers allegedly involved in torturing Gong—who did notappearduring Li's first trial. (CHRD)[iii]

Editors: David Smalls and Lin Sang

News updates from CHRD: http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class10/Index.html

Reining in Civil Society: The Chinesegovernment’s use of laws and regulations to persecute freedom ofassociation http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class11/200908/20090810214902_16733.html 

CHRD Yearbook 2007-2008: http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class11/200808/20080807093200_9888.html

[i] "Lawyers Meet with Wang Yonghang; Family Calls for EndtoPersecution (律师会见王永航 家属吁停止迫害)," January18, 2010, http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class53/201001/20100118004009_19491.html

[ii] "Liu Zhengyou Case Transferred to Procuratorate forInvestigation and Indictment (刘正有案件已经移送检察院审查起诉),"January 19, 2010, http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class53/201001/20100119105726_19504.html

[iii] "Beijing Lawyer Li Zhuang Appeals Conviction (北京律师李庄不服一审判决提起上诉),"January 19, 2010, http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class3/201001/20100119095251_19496.html

Source: ChineseHuman Rights Defenders(CHRD) Web: http://crd-net.org/  Email: networkcrd@gmail.com Promoting human rights and empowering grassrootsactivism in China --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------