Document - China: Arbitrary detention/ Fear of torture or ill-treatment
PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 17/027/2004
15 June 2004
UA 200/04 Arbitrary detention/ Fear of torture or ill-treatment
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Dr Jiang Yanyong (m), aged 72
Hua Zhongwei (f), aged 72, his wife
Hu Jia (m), aged 31
The Chinese authorities have arbitrarily detained a doctor who treated injured students during the June 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, and his wife. Also detained in the run-up to the 15th anniversary of the event was HIV and environmental activist Hu Jia. All three are at risk of torture or ill-treatment in custody.
Police detained 72-year-old Dr Jiang Yanyong and his wife, Hua Zhongwei, on 1 June, as they were on their way to the hospital where he works, in Beijing. In February this year Dr Jiang, a semi-retired military doctor had written an open letter to China’s parliament calling for an official reassessment of the events of 4 June 1989. Dr Jiang related in his letter how, as a surgeon working on the night of 3 June 1989, when the military crackdown began, he had treated nearly 90 students and demonstrators who were seriously injured or died as a result of army gunfire in and around Tiananmen Square. His family fear he is likely to be charged with “subversion” because of his letter.
Dr Jiang is also known and respected for the role he played in exposing the government's attempt to cover up the 2003 outbreak of SARS respiratory disease in China.
Dr Jiang's daughter, Jiang Rui, said in a recent press interview that she was worried the authorities were punishing her father for his outspoken statements about the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations. “Originally, we thought they would be released after 4 June. But now we still have no idea where they are,” she said. Jiang Rui now lives in the US and in the past Dr Jiang and his wife have visited her there almost every year. According to the New York-based group Human Rights in China, Dr Jiang’s son in Beijing has reportedly received two notes, written by his mother after she and Dr Jiang disappeared on 1 June, saying his parents were unable to confirm their travel plans and to cancel the plane tickets the couple had booked.
Dr Jiang and his wife were two of dozens of people arbitrarily detained in the run-up to the 4 June anniversary and since. Hu Jia, a prominent social activist who has protested publicly over a number of sensitive issues, was detained by police on several occasions, to stop him from publicly commemorating the 15th anniversary of the 4 June 1989 crackdown. Reports from Human Rights in China claim police have tried to commit Hu Jia to a psychiatric hospital. He was until recently under a form of arbitrary house arrest at his apartment in Beijing, and police beat him when he tried to go out. Although he is now thought to be at liberty, Amnesty International fears he is at extremely high risk of being arbitrarily detained again, and beaten or otherwise ill-treated.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International knows of at least 50 people who are still in prison because they were involved in the protests in and around Tiananmen Square culminating in the events of 4 June 1989.This is only a fraction of the true number still imprisoned, as the authorities have never made this public. Many more have been imprisoned since.
The Chinese government refuses to accept that the 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square were legitimate, claiming instead that the demonstrators’ intention was to overthrow the government. Senior Chinese officials have recently defended the crackdown, claiming it was necessary to maintain the “social stability” needed for China’s rapid economic growth. Groups such as the “Tiananmen Mothers”, which campaigns for an official reassessment of the protests, face regular police harassment and almost constant police surveillance.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Chinese or your own language:
- urging the Chinese authorities to immediately release Dr Jiang Yanyong and his wife Hua Zhongwei, pointing out that they were exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression;
- asking for assurances that individuals such as Hu Jia will not face reprisals for their peaceful lobbying and campaigning activities;
- urging the Chinese authorities to release all prisoners detained solely for taking part in peaceful protests when either participating in or commemorating the events of 4 June 1989.
APPEALS TO:
President of the
People’s Republic of China
HU Jintao Guojia
Zhuxi
Yongneixijie
Beijingshi 100017
People’s Republic of China
Telegram: President Hu Jintao, Beijing, China
Salutation: Your Excellency
Premier of the
People’s Republic of China
WEN Jiabao Zongli
Guowuyuan
9 Xihuang Chenggen Beijie
Beijingshi 100032
People’s Republic of China
Telegram: Premier Wen Jiabao, Beijing, China
Salutation: Your Excellency
Director of the
Beijing Public Security Bureau
MA Zhenchuan Juzhang
Gong’an Ju
19 Qianmen Dongdajie
Xuanwu Qu
Beijingshi 100740
People’s Republic of China
Telegram: Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau
Salutation: Dear Director
COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of People's Republic of China accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 27 July 2004.