[CHRB] Imprisoned Dissident Chen Xi in Failing Health (6/13-6/19/2014)

Contents

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment & Punishment

• Imprisoned Guizhou Dissident Chen Xi Suffering From Untreated Illness

Arbitrary Detention

• 3 Xinyu Activists Sentenced After Over-Extended Detention, Sham Trial
• New Information on June Fourth Anniversary Crackdown, More Than 140 Affecte

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly & Association

•  Henan Police Investigate NGO Yirenping’s Ties to Detained Lawyer Chang Boyang, Freeze Group’s Bank Account

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment & Punishment

Imprisoned Guizhou Dissident Chen Xi Suffering From Untreated Illness

Imprisoned Guizhou dissident Chen Xi (陈西) is suffering from an untreated and serious intestinal illness and has been denied medical parole since he began serving his current 10-year sentence, according to Rights Defense Network (RDN). Chen reportedly has chronic enteritis, an infection of the digestive tract characterized by dehydration and fever. His wife, Zhang Qunxuan (张群选), learned during a prison visit in January 2013 that he was having severe bouts of diarrhea. After seeing Chen in Xingyi Prison this May, Zhang said that Chen was “very frail,” and she feels that his life may be in danger if authorities do not provide him adequate medical care. Detained in November 2011, Chen was convicted the following month of “inciting subversion of state power,” and he had been imprisoned a total of 13 years for prior convictions. In a recent act of intimidation against Chen’s family, national security officers in Guiyang City took his wife and daughter to “travel” on June 4, despite the fact that Zhang is ill with diabetes and was being hospitalized at the time.[i]

Imprisoned Guizhou dissident Chen Xi (陈西) is suffering from an untreated intestinal illness and has been denied medical parole during his current 10-year sentence.

Arbitrary Detention

3 Xinyu Activists Sentenced After Over-Extended Detention, Sham Trial

After more than a year in pre-trial detention, Jiangxi activists Liu Ping (刘萍), Wei Zhongping (魏忠平), andLi Sihua (李思华) have been sentenced to prison in Xinyu City based on trumped-up charges, as reported by RDN. On June 19, the Yishui County District Court issued Liu and Wei six-and-a-half-year sentences, having convicted each of “creating a disturbance,” “gathering a crowd to disrupt order of a public place,” and “using an evil cult to undermine implementation of the law.” Li Sihua was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for “creating a disturbance.” Around the time of the trial, police took away a number of the activists’ supporters from outside the courthouse.

For years, the three individuals have engaged in a range of civil society activities, including calling on top Chinese officials to declare their personal assets, demanding China ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and running as independent candidates in elections for local legislators. They were initially detained in April 2013 as part of the nationwide crackdown on freedom of assembly, association, and expression that began in March of last year.[ii]

New Information on June Fourth Anniversary Crackdown, More Than 140 Affected

Several dozen Chinese activists, lawyers, and other members of civil society are still facing restrictions linked to June Fourth, over two weeks after the passing of the sensitive 25-year anniversary. To date, CHRD has documented cases on 144 individuals affected by police actions, including more than 50 put under criminal detention (see ongoing updates). Last week, human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang (浦志强) and his niece, the lawyer Qu Zhenhong (屈振红), were formally arrested, bringing to four the number of confirmed arrests during the crackdown. Family and supporters worry about lawyer Pu’s state of health, since he has several medical issues, including diabetes that is reportedly not being properly treated (see CHRD statement).

Previously unreported cases are below:

1989 Student Leader Wang Debang Summoned by Police

Activist Wang Debang (王德邦), a student leader from the Tiananmen demonstrations, was summoned by police for interrogation for several hours on June 17 in Guangxi Province, according to RDN.[iii] National security officers from Guilin City and Hunan Province interrogated him about activist Luo Qian (罗茜), particularly about Luo’s role in a “Return to Tiananmen” campaign. Luo was criminally detained in early June in connection with the June Fourth anniversary.

Hunan Activist in Custody After Wearing June Fourth Commemorative Shirt

Hunan activist Lü Cheng (吕程) is believed to be under criminal detention after being seized outside his home on June 3 while wearing a t-shirt commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen protests, as reported by RDN. Lü, who has been involved in the New Citizens’ Movement, has been involved in a range of advocacy activities, including raising money for the family of Zhao Fengsheng (赵枫生), a fellow Hunan activist recently tried for “inciting subversion of state power” (see report). Lü is being held at Hengyang City No. 2 Detention Center.[iv]

Hubei Activist Criminally Detained, Was Injured in Suppression of 1989 Demonstrations

Zhang Yi (张毅), an activist from Hubei Province who was injured when the 1989 demonstrations were violently broken up, was criminally detained on May 30 on a charge of “creating a disturbance.” According to RDN, Zhang had shared and solicited ideas online about a possible rally that would be intended for citizens to demand work, better living conditions, and dignity. Zhang is being held in Dongxihu District Detention Center in Wuhan. He was previously seized on March 29 in Heilongjiang Province—while showing support for four detained human rights lawyers—but subsequently released. Zhang Yi was then restricted in his movements by police beginning on April 21, when he and others asked Wuhan police about activist Zhang Siqing (张世清), whose whereabouts have been unknown since late March.[v]

Hebei Petitioner Under Criminal Detention, Had Planned June Fourth Memorial Event

Duan Shulan (段淑兰), a petitioner from Hebei Province, was criminally detained in Beijing on June 4 on a charge of “creating a disturbance,” reports RDN, possibly due to a memorial event she planned to hold for the June Fourth anniversary. Duan has petitioned central government authorities since her two children were killed a decade ago. She has sought an investigation of law-enforcement officials who she believes has sheltered those responsible for their deaths. Duan is being detained in Xicheng District Detention Center.[vi]

Freedom of Peaceful Assembly & Association

Henan Police Investigate NGO Yirenping’s Ties to Detained Lawyer Chang Boyang, Freeze Group’s Bank Account

Plainclothes police officers in Henan recently pressured staff of Zhengzhou Yirenping, an anti-discrimination organization, to cooperate with an investigation on detained lawyer Chang Boyang (常伯阳), and also froze the group’s bank account, according to Yirenping. On June 17, police came to the group’s office, reportedly to look into the activities of married couple Chen Wei (陈卫) and Yu Siwen (于世文), activists seized in late May, and took in a Yirenping programs officer for interrogation. Police inquired about the group’s ties to lawyer Chang. A few days before, authorities had frozen Zhengzhou Yirenping’s bank account, alleging that Chang, the group’s board director, has a financial interest in the group. Chang was detained on May 27 for representing Chen and Yu, who were detained in May for organizing a memorial event in February for former Chinese leaders Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang (see report). Police officers also removed two computers and financial documents from the office.

Contacts:

David Zhao, Researcher and Media Outreach (Mandarin, English, Cantonese), +852 61252921, davidzhao@chrdnet.com

Victor Clemens, Research Coordinator (English), +1 209 643 0539, victorclemens@chrdnet.com

Renee Xia, International Director (Mandarin, English), +1 240 374 8937, reneexia@chrdnet.com

Follow us on Twitter: @CHRDnet

[i] “Guizhou Dissident Chen Xi Suffers Serious Health Problems, Family Taken Away Around June 4” (贵州陈西身体出现严重问题，家属六四期间被带走), June 12, 2014, Rights Defense Network (RDN).

[ii]“Special Alert: Liu Ping & Wei Zhongping Sentenced to 6½ Year, Li Sihua Gets 3 Years” (特别关注：刘萍、魏忠平获刑6年半，李思华获刑3年), June 19, 2014, RDN.

[iii] “Urgent Appeal: Tiananmen Student Leader & Activist Wang Debang Taken Away by Police” (紧急关注：八九学生领袖、维权人士王德邦被警方带走), June 17, 2014, RDN.

[iv] “Hengyang, Hunan Activist Lü Cheng Criminally Detained Prior to June 4” (湖南省衡阳公民吕程六四前夕被带走疑遭刑拘), June 13, 2014, RDN.

[v] “Wuhan Citizen Zhang Yi Criminally Detained for Sharing Ideas for Public Procession Demanding Better Livelihoods” (武汉公民张毅六四前发“要生存游行征求意见稿”被刑拘), June 14, 2014, RDN.

[vi] “Duan Shulan of Hebei Criminally Detained on Charges of ‘Creating a Disturbance’ on June 4” (河北段淑兰六四当天被控涉嫌“寻衅滋事罪”刑拘), June 12, 2014, RDN.