From DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.orgMon Aug 28 10:49:25 1995 Date: Sat, 26 Aug 1995 04:00:00 +0100 From: Debra Guzman Reply to: beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org To: beijing95-l@netcom.com, beijing-conf@tristram.edc.org Subject: AI UA208/95 CHINA POC/Fear arrests [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] ## author : rmitchellai@gn.apc.org ## date : 24.08.95 +------------------------------------------------------+ + Paper reprints authorised. Electronic redistributors + + must request permission from Amnesty International. + + Contact: rmitchellai@gn.apc.org (UK) + + sharrison@igc.apc.org (USA) + + ggabriel@amnesty.cl.sub.de (Germany) + +------------------------------------------------------+ EXTERNAL AI Index: ASA 17/61/95 24 August 1995 UA 208/95 Prisoners of conscience/Fear of further arrests PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA Ding Zilin (f), university professor, human rights activist Jiang Peikun, her husband On 18 August 1995 Ding Zilin and her husband, Jiang Peikun, were arrested in Wuxi city, Jiangsu province, and reportedly accused of "economic irregularities". Amnesty International believes that this accusation is unfounded and fears that their detention may mark the beginning of a campaign by the Chinese authorities to keep dissidents out of the way during the forthcoming Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women. Ding Zilin, a professor at the People's University in Beijing whose son was killed on 3 June 1989 in Tiananmen Square, has been outspoken in her campaigning on behalf of the families of those killed or injured during the suppression of the 1989 pro-democracy movement. In May 1995 she initiated a public appeal, signed by 26 other relatives of victims of the June 1989 crackdown, calling for a "fair and independent" investigation into the suppression of the pro- democracy protests. Ding Zilin has also collected information from families of others killed in the June 1989 suppression in efforts to persuade the government to change the verdict on the student protests which the authorities have branded as "counter revolutionary". A source has reported that although the charge against Ding Zilin and Jiang Peikun relates to "economic irregularities", the real reason for the arrest was to prevent Ding Zilin from making contact with the women from all over the world who will be attending the Beijing Conference. It is not, however, believed that she was planning to attend, as she had not registered for the event. The arrests follow the execution of at least 16 people in Beijing which officials said were carried out in order to ensure "public order" during the Conference. This conforms to a general pattern of mass arrests by the Chinese authorities in the run up to major international events and anniversaries in China. Earlier this year, over 50 people were arrested prior to the sixth anniversary of the suppression of the democracy protests in June 1989. Amnesty International fears that the arrest of Ding Zilin and her husband, who is himself not known to have been involved in any form of human rights protest, may mark the beginning of further arrests of activists in the week leading up to the United Nations Conference. Beijing is expecting an estimated 40,000 foreign visitors during the Conference which will last from 30 August to 15 September. The forthcoming arrival of such a large number of international delegates, for the first conference of this type ever held in China, has led the Chinese authorities to strengthen security measures in the capital. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/airmail letters in Chinese, English or your own language: - calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Ding Zilin and Jiang Peikun as prisoners of conscience; - seeking assurances that no further dissidents will be detained in the run-up to, and during, the 1995 United Nations World Conference on Women. APPEALS TO: Vice-Minister of Public Security: Member of the Organizing Committee for the Fourth World Conference on Women TIAN Qiyu fubuzhang [Salutation: Dear Minister] Gong'anbu 14 Dongchang'anlu Beijingshi 100741 Peoples Republic of China Telegrams: Vice-Minister Public Security, Beijing, China Premier of the People's Republic of China: LI Peng Zongli [Salutation: Your Excellency] Guowuyuan 9 Xihuangchenggenbeijie Beijingshi 100032 People's Republic of China Telexes: 210070 FMPRC CN or 22478 MFERT CN Faxes: + 86 10 512 5810 (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs); 512 0309 Telegram: Premier Li Peng, Beijing, China Minister of Justice of the People's Republic of China: XIAO Yang Buzhang [Salutation: Your Excellency] Sifabu Xiaguangli Beijingshi 100016 People's Republic of China Telexes: 210070 FMPRC CN or 22478 MFERT CN (Please forward to Xiao Yang Buzhang) Faxes: + 8610 467 7351 Telegram: Minister of Justice Xiao Yang, Beijing, China Minister of State Security of the People's Republic of China: JIA Chunwang Anquanbuzhang [Salutation: Dear Minister] 14 Dongchang'anlu Dongchengqu Beijingshi 100741 People's Republic of China Telegrams: Minister of State Security Jia Chunwang, Beijing, China PLEASE SEND COPIES TO: His Excellency Mr Ma Yuzhen, Embassy of China, 49-51 Portland Place, London W1N 3AH [Please see the responses to this topic for the addresses of diplomatic representatives in other countries] AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING: Beijing Daily: Beijing Ribao 34 Xibiaobei Hutong Dongdan Beijingshi Peoples Republic of China PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after 12 October 1995. +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about + + the UA scheme in general, please contact: + + Ray Mitchell + + Amnesty International British Section + + 99 - 119 Rosebery Avenue + + London EC1R 4RE email: rmitchellai@gn.apc.org + +-----------------------------------------------------------+