Tiananmen 20th Anniversary Commemorative Events

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.

Tiananmen 20th Anniversary Commemorative Events

Join us to tell the world we care about democracy in China!

In the days leading up to the 20th Tiananmen Commemoration, people will assemble around the world with remembrance and truth foremost. The kick-off event is in Boston, on the Freedom Trail, the first of a series that will continue on every continent. Each day will see international walks, rides and rallies in America, Europe, Taiwan, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia and mainland China.

Kick-off Rally For Democracy in China!
Boston Remembers the 20th Anniversary of Tiananmen

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 2:00 pm, at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common, Corner of Tremont and Boylston Street, near the Boylston T station.

This is a time for Remembrance and Truth, to support the ongoing struggle for Democracy for all - Han, Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Underground Church Christians, Falun Gong, Manchurians and more.

Hear survivors of the Tiananmen Massacre: Dr. Yang Jianli, who has led efforts for democracy for the past 20 years, and Fang Zheng, the Olympic hopeful who lost his legs under a tank in Tiananmen, State Rep. Frank Smizik, Josh Rubenstein of Amnesty International USA, Professor Michael Grodin, MD, Project on Medicine and the Holocaust and other distinguished leaders of government, faith, and human rights.

Rally will be followed by a bike ride on the Boston Esplanade.

Information and Media Contact Boston: Linda Mancini, Initiatives for China Director of Development & Outreach, Boston Office, 617 501-3724 manciniart@mac.com.
In Washington, DC on June 4th, 2009, 20th Tiananmen Commemoration on the Capitol Hill West Lawn from 10 am - 2 pm
Distinguished leaders of Government, Faith, and Human Rights will tell the world that America still cares!

Along with ethnic and religious groups: Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Underground Christians, Falun Gong, Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian groups, as well as speakers from Asian democracies such as Taiwan and South Korea; with more than 25 groups of Chinese dissidents.

20th Anniversary Tiananmen sponsors, cosponsors, and participants:

(Mainland) China New Democracy Party), (Outside Mainland China) Initiatives for China, Asian Human Rights Coalition, Uyghur American Conference, International Campaign for Tibet, Friends of the Falun Gong, Amnesty International, Pan Asian Human Rights Foundation, Allies of the Guard of Canadian Values, China Rights Network (Canada), June 4 Massacre Investigation, Democratic Team in Los Angeles, Federation for a Democratic China, Chinese Liberal Democratic Party, Society for Chinese Students and Scholars (Germany, Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (US), Sydney Workshop for Democratic China (AUS). Hong Kong Federation for a Democratic China, Asia Pacific human Rights Foundation, Anti Political Persecution Alliance of China, Chinese Coalition for Citizens Rights, Chinese Democracy Promotive Society, Chinese Democracy Party USA Headquarters, China Democracy Forum (NY), Chinese Alliance for Democracy, The Overseas Chinese Coalition of Australia, China Social Democratic Party, Asian Pacific Human Rights Coalition, Chinese Constitutionalists Association.

Information and Media Contact: Jim Geheran, Initiatives for China Director, Washington Office, 202.290.1423 jgeheran@initiativesforChina.org.

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

China and the Rule of Law

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Tiananmen 20th Anniversary Commemorative Events

Charter 08 Special Section

petition for releasing Dr. Wang Bingzhang

List of Political and Religous Prisoners

Introduction to the Founder