Congressional Leaders Send President Hu Jintao Letter Regarding on Jailed Lawyers

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.

Congressional Leaders Send President Hu Jintao Letter Regarding on Jailed Lawyers

Congratulations on China Aid and the United States Congress for their efforts of completing this letter.

Please read the full text below.

Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20515
September 8, 2009

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President
People’s Republic of China

Dear Mr. President:

Following the conclusion of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue on July 28, the United States and China issued a joint release affirming “the importance of the rule of law to our two countries.” Given this recent statment, we are writing to express our deep concern over the latest developments regarding numerous Chinese Lawyers.

We have received reports from organizations in touch with these lawyers indication that their law licenses have not been renewed or in some cases have been altogether cancelled by local judicial authorities and lawyers’ associations.

Among the attorneys being prohibited from practicing law are Jiang Tiangyong, Li Heping, Li Xiongbing, Li Chunfu, Wang Yajun, Guo Shaofei, Cheng Hai, Tang Jitian, Yang Huiwen, Tong Chaoping, Liu Guitao, Xie Yanyi, Wen Haibo, Liu Wei, Zhang Lihui, Zhang Chengmao, Zhang Xingshui, Wei Liangyue, Sun Wenbing and Liu Shihui. This list is not exhaustive.

Additionally, it has come to our attention that the highly respected lawyer and founder of the Open Constitution Initiative (OCI), Xu Zhiyong, was detained by Chinese authorities on July 29 and his non-profit legal clinic shuttered. Although we were pleased to learn that Mr. Xu was released on bail on Sunday, August 23, we remain concerned that OCI has been prevented from operating and continuing the important work it has done to advance rule of law in China. Another such prominent lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, has not been heard from since he vanished into Chinese custody six months ago.

As you stated in a June meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, “the rule of law should let the people be masters of the country.” We urge you to demonstrate that China is committed to the establishment of the rule of law.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Frank R. Wolf, Member of Congress (R-VA10)
Bob Inglis, Member of Congress (R-SC4)
Bill Pascrell, Jr., Member of Congress (D-NJ8)
Scott Garrett, Member of Congress (R-NJ5)
Steve Cohen, Member of Congress (D-TN9)
Lloyd Doggett, Member of Congress (D-TX25)
Walk Minnick, Member of Congress (D-ID1)
Christopher H. Smith, Member of Congress (R-NJ4)
Daniel E. Lungren, Member of Congress (R-CA3)
Anh “Joseph” Cao, Member of Congress (R-LA2)
Thaddeus G. McCotter, Member of Congress (R-MI11)

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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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China and the Rule of Law

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Congressional Leaders Send President Hu Jintao Letter Regarding on Jailed Lawyers

Charter 08 Special Section

petition for releasing Dr. Wang Bingzhang

List of Political and Religous Prisoners

Introduction to the Founder