SOH News » rights

Breaking News – Human rights activist Hu Jia under heavy restrictions

Daniel Teng — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:28:34 +0000

Recently, renowned Beijing human rights advocate Hu Jia was transferred to Chaobai Prison in Tianjin. He has since been placed under heavy restrictions, in which four prisoners have been instructed to teach him the prison code. Hu’s mother, wife and daughter had visited him on June fifth. Subsequently Hu wrote separate letters to his parents, wife Jin Yan and young daughter.
According to insiders, there are policies in place that should allow for a family visit on the fifth of July, however officials have used “The Olympics” as an excuse to forbid the regular family visits. The title of Hu’s letter to his parents was “To Nurture”, to his wife he wrote “Like trees, thinking of each other”, and the letter for his daughter was entitled “Thanksgiving”.

Recently, Hu Jia has submitted requests for prison guards to allow his subscriptions to newspapers, in order to be updated with external news.

In regards to bail on medical circumstances, prison officials indicate that according to the law, this would only be possible after Hu has served at least one third of his term. Furthermore, May is the month to which the officials refer as the beginning of Hu’s jail term, while legally; the correct date should be the twenty seventh of December when he was first arrested.

Hu Jia is a human rights advocate who has voiced concerns for AIDS patients. He was sentenced to imprisonment by the Chinese Communist regime for his activities.

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Breaking News – Hong Kong parades for democracy

Daniel Teng — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:31:26 +0000

The July first parade, with pro-democracy Members of Parliament, is calling on the public to take to the streets and express their desires for democracy and freedom.
The slogan for the parade includes ‘No Democracy, No Accountability’ and ‘We want general election and government scrutiny.’

Nearly twenty pro-democracy MPs held a public rally on the eve of July first to urge public participation in the parade. Parliamentarian Liu Hueqing said they hope for one hundred thousand people to take to the streets to fight for democracy, freedom and rule of law in Hong Kong.

At the same time, Ms Liu invited those in different sectors with different demands to join in. She said regardless of whether the public is concerned with inflation, poultry control, petrol prices or unemployment, she believes what will unite them all is the desire for increased democracy.

Independent MP, Mr Chen Fangan said that he doesn’t want their rights scrutinised by the government and be eroded by dictatorship and cronyism and also invited the public to join in the parade.

MP Li Zhouren said that the July first parade is to force Beijing to present the work it has done in the areas of inflation and accountability and hopes it don’t score zero in both areas.

The Hong Kong pro-democracy camp has asked the public to wear white during the parade to display the purity of their united hearts.

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Breaking News – Yao Jun criticises CCP media use

Daniel Teng — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:52:53 +0000

To receive China’s human rights award, Mr. Yao Jun who travelled to the USA from Mainland China, believes that because of the great impact of New Tang Dynasty TV, the Chinese Communists are now trying to destroy NTDTV at all costs, preventing its broadcast to Mainland China.
He said “The impact on Chinese Communist regime has been great, for it airs a different voice through video and television. The impact and influence is unusually substantial. Therefore, it desperately tries to sabotage the NTDTV with all it can and at all cost.

Mr. Li from Chongqing also questioned whether the Chinese Communists adopt a new method of trying to buy the broadcast frequency used by NTDTV to broadcast into Mainland China

Mr Lee said:

“I hope that the broadcast will not be interrupted, which if it is really interrupted, in accordance with Western standards and value, it is very absurd. My doubt is whether the interruption is achieved through briberies by our Mainland government.

Mr. Yu from Heilongjiang Province said that as a citizen of Mainland China, he hoped that the European satellite company can see the situation from the moral perspective, to allow Chinese people in Mainland to hear the true voice and do meaningful things.

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Breaking News – Unjustly treated Dalian resident tortured to death

Daniel Teng — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:17:44 +0000

On the morning of May 4^th local time, a Dalian petitioner in Liaoning province, Chuo Jia, risked his life to intercept the vehicle of Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, at Dongjiao Minxiang in Beijing. He stopped the premier by putting his petitioning materials in the front of the vehicle. He was subsequently detained in Dongjiao Minxiang Security Bureau and contact with him was lost.
Chou Jia, aged 46 lived in Dalian city in Liaoning province. Twenty years ago, his residential property rights were interfered with. Chou’s parents died in a small home, his father had fought against the Japanese in World War II. Chou made many attempts to gain back his home. After failed attempts at legal proceedings in 2004 in the local courts, Chou decided to petition. Since then, Chou had become the target of the Dalian Bureau of Security, and was subjected to cruel torture and persecution, leaving him disabled.

On April 26, 2007, whilst Chou was petitioning in Beijing, he was taken against his will to Dalian Public Security Ankang Hospital. He was cruelly operated on and the hospital staff severed his arteries in an attempt to fake his suicide.

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Breaking News – Student attacked for supporting Tibetan cause

Daniel Teng — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:08:56 +0000

According to SOH sources, as a result of sentiments toward the suffering of the Tibetan people, Wang Qianyuan, a Chinese student studying in America’s Duke University, was smeared by Chinese official media as the “ugliest” international student and labelled a traitor by fellow Chinese people after he expressed that Tibetans have the rights to freedom. His family in Qingdao is also suffering harassment.
Wang, who is only 20 years old, has become a target for Chinese web users. The words used by Chinese web users to describe Wang and his family are not fit to be repeated. Apart from taunts, Chinese domestic web users have also began a “Man Hunt”, posting personal information of Wang and his family and calling on all Chinese to continue the pressure and harassment on Wang’s family.

Wang’s parent’s family home in Qingdao has had faeces thrown at their gate. The corridors around their home have been plastered with horrific slogans and their windows smashed. Due to this unbearable treatment, Wang’s parents have had no option but to leave their family home.

At the same time, there are a number of web users who wrote “It’s because we have Chinese people with conscience such as Wang Qianyuan that shows China has hope, and we show our respect to Wang and his family.” However these voices appear drowned out amidst the sense of nationalism fanned by Chinese official media.

The above news is brought to you by Li Yuhan and Daniel Teng for Breaking News on SOH Radio Network.

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Breaking News – Fears of Tibetan-like crackdown in Liaoning as numerous ant breeders are arrested

Michael Anderson — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:28:25 +0000

On March 24, ant breeders in Liaoning Province held a creditors’ meeting but officials pre-empted by holding a number of breeders in local police stations, restricting their movements on March 23. Many breeders have arrived from out of town and sources say the Chinese Communist Party has posted 2 military divisions in Shenyang to prevent another outbreak of protest like what happened in Tibet 2 weeks ago.

On the morning of March 24, reporters received a telephone conversation from an ant breeder who told the reporter that there are more police than ant breeders in the meeting venue and that Countless police vehicles and holding buses have surrounded the Power Ants building. The ant breeder believes that this is because the CCP is afraid of another Tibetan-like incident happening in Liaoning.

Many ant breeders from Shenyang city have told SOH that the city’s bureau of public security have personally gone to the homes of ant breeders to threaten and deceive them. Some police personnel have also told ant breeders that they are acting under instructions from above, and that as a result of the Tibetan events, officials are taking more precautions against the breeders to ensure another outbreak does not occur. Police have likened the ant-breeders seeking a return of deposit as Tibetans who allegedly smashed properties and robbed. There are even community personnel dispatched by the CCP who have moved into the homes of ant breeders to follow their every move.

Although the ant breeders are largely kept under surveillance, many from around the province have gathered on March 24 in the headquarters of The Power Ant group. The breeders say their aim is to claim back their hard earned money and as March 24 was the date of creditor’s meeting as set by the government they wanted to see whether this has been put into effect.

New on the evening of March 24 reveal that around 90% of ant breeders who have gathered at Power Ant’s HQ have been arrested. Shenyang was under martial law in the evening and out of towners leaving the city were stopped by police and had their identification checked. Those without id had to leave their name and address and be checked that they weren’t an ant breeder.

On November 30 last year, Shenyang’s Intermediate People’s court declared the Power Ants Group bankrupt, causing 1.1million ant breeders to lose nearly $20 billion RMB. There has been allegations that the government was masterminding the incident.

The above news is brought to you by Fan Rui and Chris Thomas for Breaking News on the SOH Radio Network.

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Breaking News – Hefty 5 year sentence handed out to Yang Chunlin

Daniel Teng — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:57:26 +0000

On March 24, land rights appeals representative Yang Chunlin was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 2 years deprivation of political rights by the City Intermediate People’s Court in Heilongjiang Province. Yang was found guilty of “inciting the subversion of State Power” after he initiated the movement of “No to Olympics, Yes to Human Rights”.
Yang Chunlin’s sister Yang Chunping said that when the City Court found that Yang was guilty of inciting the subversion of State Power and handed down the sentence, Yang pointed out in Court that the Chinese Communist Party’s judiciary violates the law and that all his actions were within the rights of his freedom of speech and he did not break any laws. He said the judgement against him was illegal and thus refused to sign the judgement and will thus also not appeal the decision.

Yang Chunling’s defence lawyer Li Fangping pointed out that this judgement was severe and that they will arrange to meet with Yang within 10 days to ascertain whether or not he will appeal.

After the judgment Yang Chunling wished to speak to his family in the Courtroom but was stopped by bailiff with an electric baton.

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Breaking News – Bao Dan urges the Two sessions to adopt the “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”

Michael Anderson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:36:06 +0000

During the recent Two Sessions of the CCP, SOH interviewed Mr Bao Dan, the secretary to the former General Secretary of the CCP Zhao Ziyang. Mr Bao urged the Two Sessions to discuss and adopt the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UN ICCPR).

Mr Bao points out that the National People’s Congress (NPC) is meant to discuss issues of concern to the people. This congress should approve and become assigned to the UN ICCPR. “Because in 1998 the Chinese government in 1998 sent representatives to the UN in New York to sign the ICCPR, but 10 years on, the NPC has not signed or even discussed this covenant.

Mr Bao says this is quite abnormal. The Beijing Olympics will be on this year and the CCP is trying hard to mould its image on the international stage. I think this is a very good opportunity.”

Recently a group of human rights advocates and those in the legal fraternity have started a movement to request the NPC to approve the UN ICCPR. So far the movement has received signatures and support from 14000 Chinese citizens from around China.

Mr Bao points out that the NPC should discuss issues that are of concern to the people and not the leaders, otherwise it cannot be a people’s congress.

Mr Bao Dan was the secretary to the former General Secretary of the CCP Zhao Ziyang, former Secretary to the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, former member of the Central Committee of the Commjnist Party and Head of Chinese Political Reform Research Committee. Since the Tiananmen incident he was sentenced to 7 years mprisonment and was the highest ranking CCP official to be sentenced after the incident. After release he was under lengthy house arrest and cut off from outside contact.

The above news is brought to you by Lin Nan, Fan Liang and Chris Thomas from SOH Radio Network.

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Breaking News – People from Mainland China support putting Jiang’s clan on trial

Michael Anderson — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:58:32 +0000

During the two congresses either regional or central in China, rights advocates all over China have been suppressed, especially in Shanghai, the most severely suppressed. Northeast rights advocate Kong Qiang recently issued a seventh open letter, urging the authorities to bring Jiang’s nephew Wu Zhiming to justice. The proposal has won the support of people.

Kong Qiang proposed in his open letter to set up a special court at the National People’s Congress to put Jiang Zemin and his clan including Chen Liang-Yu, Wu Zhi-Ming and Jiang Jin-Heng to trial. He especially wanted to start with Jiang Ze-Min’s nephew, the former Secretary of Shanghai Municipal Political and Law Committee, Wu Zhi-Ming who ordered to persecute human rights lawyer Zheng En-Chong for exposing the corrupt Shanghai officials.

Kong Qiang said: “Now the remaining members of Jiang’s clan still exist in all parts of the country, including those in the central government departments who are persecuting Mainland commoners. You must bring Jiang to justice via the court of law.”

The former Shanghai police officer Zhang Bao-Liang who has been put under house arrest for exposing the corruption of Shanghai officials expressed his support to Kong’s proposal in order to dissolve the corruptions in China. Zhang’s 80 year-old mother fell ill due to severe intimidation by the authorites.

Zhang Bao-Liang: “So far this corruption can not be resolved, I strongly support Kong-qiang, strongly urge the State Council to set up a special court to put the bandit groups to trial and return Chinese people to a society ruled by law.”

Heilongjiang petitioner Mr. Chen said that corruption started increasing since Jiang Ze-Min assumed office, causing countless people injustice. The gory debts must be met with punishment by law.

Mr. Chen said, “so why is China so corrupted? During Jiang Ze-Min’s governance, what did he accomplish but to corrupt the country and to anguish people? If he was not corrupted, how come there are so many trumped-up cases?”

Guangdong veteran Mr. Zeng said that military groups safeguarding their rights have been suppressed for many years, and they have given up hopes. Finally, someone dares to speak out and they all support bringing the culprit who violates the rights and interests of people to justice.

The founder of a rights website “Chinese Appeal for Justice” Kong Qiang, responding to the difficulties the Chinese people have in defending their rights, have issued seven open letters consecutively, urging the actions of the authorites to punish corruption and to bring Jiang’s clan to justice.

The above news is brought to you by Li Wen, Xong Bin, and hosted by Chris Thomas for Breaking News on the SOH Radio Network.

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Breaking News – Representatives of Shanghai evicted home victims appeals in Beijing for a retrial of Zhou Zhenyi

Michael Anderson — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:51:12 +0000

Victims Representatives of the Shanghai East Eight Land force removals Sheng Ting, Hong Kong resident Li Jingquan and Luo Fangfang along with her mother Hua Gui yu have arrived in Beijing to appeal to the CCP’s 11th National People’s Congress to retry Zhou Zhenyi. The group of 4 published a press release before their journey.

The media release wrote that “Shanghai Middle Court sentenced “Shanghai’s Richest” Zhou Zhenyi to 16 years imprisonment on November 30 2008, but the judgment of Zhou has omitted serious issues including his collusion with Shanghai officials and illegally obtaining valuable land parcels in East Eight Land with intent to profit.” This judgment is utterly unfair to the residents of East Eight Land whose homes have been destroyed. East Eight Land residents together with their attorney Zhen Enchong have exposed the collusion between businessmen and officials. Attorney Zhen have suffered repeated beatings by police in recent days and many residents have been detained, sentenced and even killed. The land circling that occurred in East Eight Land have encouraged violent land resumptions and terrifying forced removals around the country. Sheng Ting and others are urging the People’s Congress to retry the case of Zhou Zhenyi.

Sheng Ting brought her newly published book “Exposing the case of Zhou Zhenyi” and intends to give a tip off to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection about the Zhou’s collusion with Shanghai officials and accounts of him receiving 100 million RMB by deceit. Sheng and others are urging the People’s Congress to utilise the law and continue with the case by Chen Ting against former Minister of Public Security, Zhou Yongkang, to ascertain the issue of Hong Kong residents’ nationality and allow all Hong Kong residents to have access to HVPS (high value payment system) in order to establish a truly harmonised society.

Sheng Ting was asked by attorney Zhen Enchong to call upon the central government, People’s Congress, domestic and foreign media to pay attention to the corruption of the Shanghai Gang, the abuse of human rights, to stop the persecution of appealers, allow all people to enjoy the fruits of economic development and protection of their private property rights. Shen Ting also urges Shanghai officials to cease the persecution of Attorney Zhen as a result of her new book and to redress the case of Attorney Zhen

The above news is brought to you by Li Fang Qiong, and hosted by Chris Thomas for Breaking News on SOH Radio Network.

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