The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint
programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has received new
information on the following situation in China and requests your
urgent intervention.
New information:
The Observatory has been informed by Human Rights in China (HRIC),
that Mrs. Ding Zilin, Mrs. Zhang Xianling and Mrs. Yin Min, members
of the Tiananmen Mothers, are being held under house arrest.
According to the information received, Mrs. Ding Zilin, Mrs. Zhang
Xianling and Mrs. Yin Min were planning to file a legal complaint
before the Supreme People’s Procuratorate against former Premier Li
Peng on behalf of 126 people who lost a family member in the violent
crackdown against protesters in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.
According to the information received, on May 24, a senior official
visited Ding Zilin and her husband, Jiang Peijun, to inform them that
a resolution concerning the violent crackdown by the People’s
Liberation Army soldiers against protesters in Beijing on June 4,
1989 was out of the question. Following this visit, no one has been
allowed to enter Ding and Jiang’s home. The couple has also not been
allowed to leave home except for the purchase of basic necessities.
On May 25, police warned Ding Zilin not to go to the Procuratorate.
On May 28, Zhang Xianling and Yin Min were also placed under
surveillance. The police warned them not to file any legal
complaints. Following this police warning, the three women issued an
open letter demanding accountability for the violent crackdown on
peaceful protesters 15 years ago and calling on Chinese people to put
pressure on the Chinese government to take up genuine reform.
The Observatory urges the Chinese authorities to conform with the
provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by
the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, which states in article
9.2 that "everyone whose rights or freedoms are allegedly violated
has the right, either in person or through legally authorized
representation, to complain to and have that complaint promptly
reviewed in a public hearing before an independent, impartial and
competent judicial or other authority established by law and to
obtain from such an authority a decision, in accordance with law,
providing redress, including any compensation due, where there has
been a violation of that person’s rights or freedoms, as well as
enforcement of the eventual decision and award, all without undue
delay".
Background information:
The "Tiananmen Mothers" is a group of family members of people killed
or injured in the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in
Tiananmen Square in June 1989, when the Chinese authorities sent
armed troops into Beijing to suppress a peaceful movement calling for
democratic reform and an end to corruption. Over the past 15 years,
the Tiananmen Mothers have documented the cases of 182 people killed
during the crackdown in Beijing, and have been calling upon the
Chinese government to make appropriate reparations.
On March 28, 2004, Mrs. Ding Zilin, head of the Tiananmen Mothers,
and two members, Mrs. Zhang Xianling and Mrs. Huang Jinping, were
arrested and their homes searched by the police. Mrs. Ding Zilin lost
her son in the events of 1989 and since then has become the most
prominent spokesperson for victims’ families in revealing the truth
and demanding justice. Mrs. Zhang Xianling and Mrs. Huang Jinping
also lost their son and husband, respectively, and are well-known
spokespersons of the "Tiananmen Mothers". Their arrest occurred after
a video CD was released in Hong Kong, presenting the testimonies of
six family members of the June 4th victims, including the testimonies
of Ding Zilin, Zhang Xianling and Huang Jinping. This video CD was
taken to Geneva to be presented to the Human Rights Commission’s
Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. The three of
them were released on April 1, 2004. See Urgent Appeal CHN
001/0304/OBS019 issued by the Observatory on March 30, 2004.
Action requested:
Please write to the Chinese authorities, urging them to:
i. Release immediately and unconditionally Ding Zilin, Zhang Xianling
and Yin Min from house arrest and guarantee their physical and
psychological integrity in all circumstances.
ii. Conform with the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted
by the United Nations’ General Assembly on 9 December 1998, in
particular article 1, which states that " everyone has the right,
individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive
for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental
freedoms at the national and international levels " and article 9.2
mentioned above.
iii. Conform with the provisions of the Universal Declaration on
Human Rights, and with the other international instruments binding
China.
Addresses:
President Hu Jintao, People’s Republic of China, c/o Embassy of the
People’s Republic of China; 2300 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington,
D.C., 20008, USA, Fax: +01 202 588-0032
President Hu Jintao, People’s Republic of China, c/o Permanent
Mission of the People’s Republic of China, Chemin de Surville 11,
Case postale 85, 1213 Petit-Lancy 2, Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +4122
7937014, E-mail: mission.china@ties.itu.int
Minister of Justice of the People’s Republic of China, Zhang Fusen
Buzhang, Sifabu, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi
100020, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 65 292345
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Li
Zhaoxing Buzhang Waijiaobu, 2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Beijingshi
100701, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6588 2594, Email:
ipc@fmprc.gov.cn
Ambassadeur, Sha Zukang, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic
of China, Ch. De Surville, CP 85, 1213 Petit-Lancy 2, Switzerland, e-
mail: mission.china@ties.itu.int, Fax : +4122 793.70.14
Paris - Geneva, June 3, 2004
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.The Observatory, a joint FIDH and OMCT venture,
is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders, and aims to
offer them concrete support in their time of need.
To contact the Observatory, call the Emergency Line:
E-mail: observatoire@iprolink.ch
Tel and Fax: FIDH: +33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / 01 43 55 18 80
OMCT: +41 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29