AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION：CHINESE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST FACING TRIAL

UA: 230/11 Index: ASA 17/038/2011 China                        Date: 27 July 2011

Human rights activist Wang Lihong was detained in Beijing, China on 21 April, and could face trial as soon as next month. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate has not given her lawyer full access to documents related to her case. Wang Lihong is suffering from chronic back pain and is at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Wang Lihong, 56, was taken from her home by nine police officers on 21 March 2011 as part of a wave of
detentions sparked by the Jasmine protests in the Middle East and North Africa. Police searched her home and
confiscated her personal computer. On 21 April, Beijing Chaoyang District Police told her family she had been
formally arrested under suspicion of “assembling a crowd to block traffic or undermine traffic order” and was
detained at Beijing Chaoyang District Police Detention Center. If convicted, she could face up to five years in
prison.

On 15 July 2011, her lawyer, Han Yicun, received confirmation from the Beijing Chaoyang District People’s
Procuratorate that she would be charged with “assembling a crowd to block traffic or undermine traffic order”,
based on her participation in a peaceful protest in April 2010 in support of three Fujian internet activists charged with defamation for posting questions online about an alleged police cover-up in the death of a young woman.

According to Wang Lihong’s lawyer, Han Yicun, police had limited the number of times lawyers could visit her in
police detention and the Procuratorate was not allowing lawyers to access all case documents, violating legal
provisions on lawyers’ rights to access their clients and documents related to the case.

Her lawyer visited her on 8 July and reported that she is suffering from chronic back pain. Though she has access to necessary medicine, she appeared weak and her health had deteriorated after nearly four months in detention.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English, Chinese or your own language:
 Call on authorities to release Wang Lihong immediately and unconditionally unless the authorities can show
reasonable grounds for suspecting her of having committed an internationally-recognizable criminal offense;
 Urge the authorities to ensure Wang Lihong has access to family, legal representation of her choice, and any
medical care she may require;
 Urge the authorities to guarantee Wang Lihong will not be tortured or ill-treated while in custody;
 Urge the authorities to 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.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 SEPTEMBER 2011 TO:
Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau
Fu Zhenghua Juzhang
Beijingshi Gong'anju
9 Dongdajie, Qianmen
Dongchengqu
Beijingshi 100740
People's Republic of China
Fax: 011 86 10 65242927
Salutation: Dear Director

Chief Procurator of the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate
Mu Ping Jianchazhang
Beijingshi Renmin Jianchayuan
12 Shijingshanlu
Shijingshanqu
Beijingshi 100040
People's Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Procurator

And copies to:
Premier
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu,
Beijingshi 100017,
People's Republic of China
Fax: 011 86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Also send copies to:
Ambassador Zhang Yesui, Embassy of the People's Republic of China
3505 International Place NW, Washington DC 20008
Tel: 202 495-2266 ǀ Fax: 1 202 495-2138 ǀ Email: chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn
Check with AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION
CHINESE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST FACING TRIAL
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Wang Lihong, 56, is a widely known human rights activist who often visits petitioners and provides food and clothes for those living on the street waiting to seek justice. She also frequently moves in with activists under police surveillance in order to provide them with emotional support. She has visited the wives of detained activists to help them with cooking and child care,and often has helped them find financial support and secure legal aid for their spouses.“Her support is always timely and practical, and she is always on the frontline of human rights!”, activists launching a campaign for her release said. She went
straight to Chen Guangcheng’s village after he was released and placed under illegal house arrest and allegedly beaten. She wrote 23 letters to the Fujian government to lobby for the release of three internet activists when they were being held for posting questions online about an alleged police cover-up in the death of a young woman.

Amnesty International issued a web action on Wang Lihong on 5 May 2011 (see: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-andupdates/china%E2%80%99s-jasmine-activists-2011-05-05 ). Many activists in China are campaigning for Wang Lihong’s release. Wang Lihong reportedly once said, “If I remain silent in the face of suffering and evil, then the next evil that should be struck down is myself.”

Name: Wang Lihong (f)
Issue(s): Freedom of Expression / Health Concern

UA 230/11
Issue Date: 27 July 2011
Country: China


http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa23011.pdf