Urgent Statement about Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua’s Detention

China and the Rule of Law

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This section contains articles which discuss the rule of law in China. The rule of law is a fundamental attribute of a stable and harmonious society. Without institutions and governance that support the rule of law, individual, corporate, and organizational freedoms cannot be protected or guaranteed.

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*promoting principles of non-violent struggle;

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Urgent Statement about Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua’s Detention

December 9th, 2008 · No Comments

12-09-2008
Issued by Initiatives for China
Contact: Jim Geheran
Tel: 202-290-1423
initiatives4china@gmail.com
www.initiativesforchina.org

On December 8th, 2008, famous Beijing dissidents Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua were placed under criminal detention by the Beijing Police Department. Both Liu and Zhang’s houses and properties were searched and confiscated with ruthless violence. This happened on the 60-year anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and 30-year anniversary of the China Reform and Opening. The arrest and violent search serves as a reckless trample on Chinese civilians’ human rights and defiance to the universal value. Gong-min-li-liang (Initiatives for China) hereby expresses our utmost indignation and denouncement.

Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua are very famous dissidents in China and steadfast disseminators of universal values in democracy, freedom, and human rights. They have worked on enlightenment thoughts of citizenship, and the improvement of human rights for a very long time. Because of their feats, they are widely respected and acknowledged by Chinese civilians as leaders of their voices and societal consciousness. Their morality, courage, personality, and rational attitudes toward a strong autarchy is a milestone of the maturity of China’s civilians’ society and a sign of significant hope to China’s non-violent reforms.

This year (2008) is the 60-year anniversary of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, 30-year anniversary of the birth of the “Democracy Wall”, and 10-year anniversary of China’s government subscription of “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”. It is also the time when most political, economic, and social problems in China have come into embodiment. The voice from every level of China’s society is demanding that China reform its’ policies now more than ever before. Under unfortunate circumstances, Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua were able to take part in signing the “08 Charter” but were persecuted by Beijing Policy Department before the “08 Charter” could be released. This has clearly demonstrated that the Chinese government is still holding their stubborn and rigid political doctrines; and, instead of negotiating, the Chinese government is still implementing political persecution on civilians’ requests for reforms. This type of outrageous act is eroding the fundamentals of non-violent reforms in China’s society.

We hereby fully support the “08 Charter” that Liu Xioabo and Zhang Zuhua signed. We also admire their efforts and contributions to China’s democracy and human rights. We appeal to the Chinese government to release Mr. Liu Xiaobo, and guarantee Zhang Zuhua’s personal safety. At the same time, we do hope that the Chinese government will take the standpoints and requests in “08 Charter” seriously and make its’ response to the civilians in a positive manner.

Dr. Yang Jianli
Gong-min-li-liang (Initiatives for China)

Tags: Civil Rights · Open Letters

Charter 08 Special Section

Please click here to view Charter 08 Special Section.

"In Support of Charter 08" by Dr. Yang Jianli

"Thank you to those people in China who have created and published Charter 08. We have great appreciation and admiration for their thoughtful, brilliantly clear and concise manifesto published on December 10th. It appears that Charter 08 has uplifted the hearts and hopes of many dear brothers and sisters within China who have signed on to the original 303 names by the tens of thousands and wish to publicly stand for their rights. We are in awe of their courage and sincere committment. This momentous document and the community is noticed also by the world outside China. May the sincere aspirations of the Chinese people for democracy continue to flourish."

List of Political and Religous Prisoners

1. Dr. Wang Bing-zhang, lifelong democracy activist. Mr. Wang was allegedly kidnapped in Vietnam by Chinese State Security police in 2002. He was taken to China where he was sentenced to life in prison after a closed door trial. Mr. Wang is 62 years old and in poor health. Click here

2. Mr. Chen Guang-cheng, a blind and self-taught human rights lawyer helping women victims of China's strict one birth policy. August 24, 2006, after a two-hour trial, Chen was charged was sentenced to over 4 years in prison. Click here

3. Mr. Qin Yong-min, one of the first leaders in the pro-democracy movement in China. The first arrest of him was in 1981 for 7 years prison. The last arrest was On December 22, 1998, and the Wuhan City Court sentenced him to twelve years in prison. Click here

4. Mr. Zhang Zhongxin, a pastor of a local house church in Jiangxiang County, Shandong Province. June 6th of 2008, pastor Zhang Zhongxin was arrested and then sentenced for two years reeducation through labor in July 4th. Click here

Introduction to the Founder

Founder and President of Initiatives for China, Dr. Yang Jianli was born in Shandong Province in northern China. A graduate of Beijing Normal University, Dr. Yang holds a PhD. in Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in Political Economy from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. In 1989, at the age of 26, his fellow graduate students at Berkeley selected him to go to Beijing in support of their counterparts in China who were demonstrating for democracy in Tiananmen Square. He arrived in Tiananmen Square in time to witness the massacre of thousands of peaceful demonstrators by the guns and tanks of the Chinese government. This event fundamentally changed young Jianli's future. He narrowly escaped capture and returned to the United States where he committed himself to studying democracy. Read more...

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Urgent Statement about Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua’s Detention

December 9th, 2008 · No Comments

Charter 08 Special Section

petition for releasing Dr. Wang Bingzhang

List of Political and Religous Prisoners

Introduction to the Founder