AI Urgent Action 92/11- Activist Detained, Family Under House Arrest in China

Ding Fangguan (known as Gu Chuan), 30, a writer and human rights activist, was detained on 19 February. He has been held incommunicado since. He is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. His wife Li Xinai, 28, and their two children are under illegal house arrest in the family home in Beijing. About two dozen policemen searched Ding Fangguan and Li Xinai's home in Bejing in the afternoon of 19 February. They confiscated two computers, two mobile phones and some books from their apartment, and took Ding Fangguan with them.The police have not told Li Xinai where they are holding Ding Fangguan or the reasons for his arrest. Instead, they have threatened her that what happens to him depends on how cooperative she is. Li Xinai has been under illegal house arrest in their home ever since. She cannot be contacted online. She is taking care of the couple's children, aged 21 months and four months. On 23 March, Li Xinai was told that the family will need to movefrom their current flat. For already one year the police have been pressuring their landlord to evict them. If evicted, it is likely that they would struggle to find another flat to rent due to similar continued pressures. Even if they did move to a new home, it is likely they would remain under tight surveillance.BACKGROUND INFORMATIONDing Fangguan, also well known by his pen name Gu Chuan, was an editor of the website "Blog China" between 2005 and 2008. He has contributed articles to various print and online magazines including Minzhu Zhongguo (Democratic China) and the Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper. Gu Chuan and Li Xinai's home was raided for the first time inApril 2010, when the police also held him for seven hours for questioning. Online calls in February 2011 for China to stage its own 'Jasmine Revolution' following protests in the Middle East and North Africa have prompted the heaviest wave of arrests of Chinese activists for several years. Since late February more than 100 activists, many of them active on Twitter and blogging networks, have been detained, subjected to monitoring and intimidation by the security forces, or havegone missing.Calls in China for a 'Jasmine Revolution' in February consisted of online instructions to 'stroll' through designated public places across the country on Sunday afternoons. Faced with a large state security presence, no significant gatherings have taken place. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:-Release Ding Fangguan immediately and unconditionally unless they can show reasonable grounds for suspecting him of having committed an internationally recognizable criminal offence; -Ensure he has access to family, legal representation of his choice, and any medical care he may require;-Guarantee that Ding Fangguan will not be tortured or ill-treated while he remains in custody;-End all harassment and restrictions on Li Xinai's freedom of movement-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. APPEALS TO:Director of the Beijing Public Security BureauFu Zhenghua JuzhangBeijingshi Gong'anju 9 Dongdajie, QianmenDongchengquBeijingshi 100740PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINAFax: 011 86 10 65242927Salutation: Dear DirectorMinister of Public Security of the People's Republic of ChinaMENG Jianzhu BuzhangGong'anbu14 Dongchang'anjieDongchengquBeijingshi 100741PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINASalutation: Your ExcellencyPremier of the People's Republic of ChinaWEN Jiabao Guojia ZongliThe State Council General Office2 FuyoujieXichengquBeijingshi 100017PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINAFax: 011 86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)Salutation: Your Excellency