Human Rights

China and the Rule of Law

Google Chooses to Do No Evil
Google's announcement on Tuesday that it had detected "highly sophisticated" attacks on the email accounts of Chinese human rights activists clearly illustrates the consequences of a policy toward China based on a long-standing but faulty argument. For 30 years, Western commentators have argued that expanded human and political rights for Chinese citizens will automatically flow from increased engagement with China on economic and security issues, and other areas of mutual interest. But this thesis is not supported by history -- or my personal experience... (Click here to read the entire Foreign Policy Magazine Article)

The case of Mr. Feng Zhenghu exemplifies the systemic lack of due process and the rule of law in China, which traps and intimidates its citizens. Click the links below to read more about Mr. Feng situation and its legal context.

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.

Our Mission

We are committed to sowing the seeds of truth, love, justice, freedom, and democracy in China, through the following means:
*promoting principles of non-violent struggle;

*raising awareness among Chinese citizens of their legal rights;

*advancing the Chinese Citizen Power Movement (Gong-min-li-liang);

*encouraging Chinese citizens to evaluate their government, to affirm its positive efforts on their behalf, and to critique it when necessary; and

*providing more overseas assistance, with the aim of influencing the policies of the government.

All these efforts are undertaken in order to accomplish a peaceful transition to a democratic China through constitutional reform.

Entries Tagged as 'Human Rights'

Join us to Remember the 20th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Democracy Movement

May 29th, 2009 · No Comments

Join distinguished leaders of government, faith, human rights groups and leaders of 1989Tiananmen Square student democracy movement. Stand by the people of China in their struggle for democracy, justice and the rule of law. Show the world America still cares.
20th Tiananmen Commemoration
Remembrance and Truth
June 4, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Capitol Hill, West Lawn
Washington, DC

Congressman Joins Tiananmen Survivors in Call for Action on China’s Human Rights Record

May 20th, 2009 · No Comments

Emotional press conference hears testimony of athlete Fang Zheng whose legs were crushed by Chinese army tank during crackdown of June 4, 1989
Pictured: (In wheelchair) Mr. Fang Zheng, (right) Ms. Grace Wang, Translator, (background) Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey.
(Washington, D.C. May18, 2009) — Mr. Fang Zheng, a victim of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre [...]

Chinese dissident denied entry to homeland again

May 15th, 2009 · No Comments

click here to see the article on Boston Globe.html
Thursday, May 12, 2009 8:57 AM
By David Abel, Globe Staff
For the second time in less than a year, Chinese dissident and Harvard fellow Yang Jianli was refused entry into his native country.
His latest effort to enter Hong Kong was stymied Saturday night, he said in a telephone [...]

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...

Interfaith / Interethnic Leadership Conference