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Take Action in Year of the Rabbit!

February 1, 2011

Take Action in Year of the Rabbit!

(Chinese Year 4709)

Express Your Support for Imprisoned Activists and Rights Defenders in China

The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in Chinese tradition – a time for the whole family to come together. You can celebrate the New Year (which begins on February 3, 2011) by sending messages of support to those in China who cannot be with their families because they have been imprisoned for their peaceful exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.

HRIC is compiling a list of imprisoned activists and rights defenders with information on their activities and imprisonment. The following 35 individuals include writers, scientists, poets, labor organizers, and journalists, who have been advocating for environmental protection, land rights, religious freedom, and democratic reform.

Send your message of support now. You can adapt or cut and paste the message below onto a blank piece of paper, then just sign it and send as a postcard or inside an envelope by airmail to the address of the prison or place of detention. To address the letter, print out the imprisoned individual’s name and address in Chinese from the list below, including the English words “P.R. China” at the end of the address, and affix it to an envelope or postcard to mail. (Included below are the addresses of some of these individuals’ families.  We urge you to send messages to them as well.)

Letters and postcards from the United States reach China by airmail typically within ten days. Airmail postage from the United States to China is $0.98 for a one ounce letter or postcard.

Sample Message

Dear  [Activist Name]  :

Please know that you are neither alone nor forgotten. There are many in the world who care deeply for you and the international community is calling for your unconditional release.

Sincerely yours,

[YOUR SIGNATURE]
[CITY, COUNTRY]
[DATE]

亲爱的 [Activist Name] 先生 (If Mao Hengfeng, Cheng Jianping: 女士):

在羁押中的您并不孤独,人们没有忘记您,许许多多相识和不相识的人在关注惦记着您,国际社会在呼吁您被无条件释放。

请多保重!

远方的朋友
[YOUR SIGNATURE]
[CITY, COUNTRY]
[DATE]

 

Imprisoned Activists in China

[Compiled by Human Rights in China, January 2011]

Name

Activities

Charge Convicted

Sentence

Anticipated Release

Address

Chen Daojun
(陈道军)

Writer, rights activist

 

Published writings supporting democratic reform and environment protests until his detention in May 2008.

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Three years’ imprisonment and three subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

May 8, 2011

Prison address:
陈道军
四川省南充市
川中监狱二监区
邮编637100
P.R. China

Family address:
曾启蓉
四川省金堂县赵镇
三江小区4栋2单元14号
邮编610400
P.R. China

Cheng Jianping  (Wang Yi) 
(程建萍
[王译])

Rights activist

 

Retweeted a sarcastic message about China’s “angry youth” in 2010.

Disrupting order in a public place (扰乱公共场所秩序)

One year of Reeducation-Through-Labor.  

November 14, 2011

RTL facility address:
程建萍
河南省郑州市管城区十八里河镇
河南省女子劳教所四大队
邮编:450061
P.R. China

 

Guo Quan
(郭泉)
Rights
activist

Wrote open letters to President Hu Jintao and other leaders in 2007-08 appealing for multi-party elections, the de-politicization of the People's Liberation Army, the Sichuan earthquake, and other social issues. Founded the New Democracy Party of China.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Ten years’ imprisonment and three subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

November 12, 2018

Prison address:
郭泉
江苏省南京市浦口区石佛寺
南京第四机床厂南京3202信箱50分箱113组
邮编:210031
P.R. China

Family address:
李晶
江苏省南京市鼓楼区
清凉门大街68号
金信花园1 幢2号1001 室
邮编:210036  P.R. China

Hu Jia
(胡嘉
[胡佳])
HIV/AIDS activist

Criticized the Communist Party and China’s human rights situation; posted critical essays online in advance of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Three and a half years’ imprisonment and one subsequent year of deprivation of political rights.

June 26, 2011

Prison address:
胡嘉
北京219-3信箱 胡嘉收
邮编102600
P.R. China

Family address:
曾金燕  
北京市通州区BOBO自由城东果园76号楼542曾金燕收
邮编:101100 P. R. China

 

Hu Mingjun
(胡明军)
Political activist,
labor organizer

Organized the Sichuan Province branch of the banned China Democratic Party (CDP); wrote and distributed protest statements regarding the government’s treatment of striking workers at a steel mill in Dazhou, Sichuan in 2000.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Eleven years’ imprisonment and four subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

May 30, 2012

Prison address:
胡明军
南充市高坪区
2085信箱3分箱
四川省第一监狱
邮编637100
P.R. China

Huang Jinqiu
(黄金秋)
Writer,
democracy activist

Wrote for the US-based website Boxun while abroad in Malaysia in 2000 to 2003. Began planning the establishment of the China Patriot Democracy Party (中国爱国民主党) in 2002.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Twelve years’ imprisonment and four subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

December 12, 2011

Prison address:
黄金秋
江苏省南京市浦口区
顶山街道石佛寺
浦口监狱
邮编:210031
P.R. China

Huang Qi
(黄琦)
Rights activist

Sentenced to five years for advocating on behalf of victims of the 1989 Democracy Movement and Falun Gong practitioners. After his release, he immediately resumed his political activities, posting commentary on the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that was critical of the government’s handling of disaster relief.

Illegally possessing state secrets (非法持有国家机密文件)

Three years’ imprisonment.

June 10, 2011

Prison address:
黄琦
四川达州市大竹县竹阳南路
川东监狱三监区
邮编635100 P.R. China

 

Family address:
浦文清
四川省内江市中区
沱中路31 号1幢44 号
内江市第一人民医院
邮编 641000
P.R. China

Huang Xiaomin
(黄晓敏)
Rights defender

Lu Dachun
(陆大椿)
Rights defender

Xing Qingxian
(幸清贤)
Rights defender

Yan Wenhan
(严文汉)
Rights defender

Assisted petitioners in February 2009 in spreading information about a protest outside the gate of the Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court and in front of a department store. The incident has come to be known as the “Chain Gate” case. Also helped spread news of the protest by taking photos and videos and writing a report that they circulated on overseas websites.

Gathering a crowd to disturb social order (聚众扰乱社会秩序)

Huang: two and a half years’ imprisonment. Lu, Xing and Yan: two years’ imprisonment.

Huang: August 31, 2011
Lu : March 2, 2011
Xing and Yan:
March 1, 2011

Prison addresses:
黄晓敏
四川省乐山市石柱山乐山市看守所
邮编614000 P.R. China

陆大椿
四川省乐山市石柱山乐山市看守所
邮编614000 P.R. China

幸清贤
四川省乐山市石柱山乐山市看守所
邮编614000 P.R. China

严文汉
四川省乐山市石柱山乐山市看守所
邮编614000 P.R. China

Jin Haike
(靳海科)
Geological survey technician

Helped establish the New Youth Study Association (新青年学会), an organization aimed at exploring ways to enact social reform. The group published online articles critical of the government.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Ten years’ imprisonment and two subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

March 12, 2011

Prison address:
靳海科
北京市2357信箱4分箱
邮编 100121
P.R. China

Family address:
赵群英
河南省邬陵县柏棣镇大路王村
邮 编461234
P.R. China

Liu Xianbin
(刘贤斌)
Writer, signer of Charter 08

Participated in the 1989 Democracy Movement and the signature campaigns for Tiananmen activist Wang Dan (王丹) in 1993 and 1995.Tried to register the Sichuan Preparatory Committee of the China Democracy Party (中国民主党四川筹备委员会) in 1998; organized the Sichuan branch of the China Human Rights Watch (中国人权观察四川分部). Resumed his political activities immediately following his release from prison in 2008 after serving nine years and four months for “subversion of state power.”

Detained on suspicion of “Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)”

Detained since June 2010.

Unknown

Detention center address:
刘贤斌
四川省遂宁市
公安局看守所119室
邮编629000
P.R. China

Family address:
陈明先
四川省遂宁市
遂宁中学 高中语文组
陈明先收
邮编629000
P.R. China

Liu Xiaobo
(刘晓波)
Writer,
2010 Nobel Peace Prize recipient

Longtime activist and writer; a principal drafter of Charter 08.

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Eleven years and two subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

June 21, 2020

Prison address:
刘晓波
辽宁省锦州监狱
辽宁锦州市太和区
南山里86号
邮编121014
P.R. China

Family address:
刘霞
北京市 海淀区
玉渊潭南路9号院
17栋4单元501
邮编 100038
P.R. China

Liu Xingrong
(刘兴荣)
Dissident

Accused of having established, along with fellow activist Long Hongfei, the China Workers Party, an organization with the stated objective of peacefully achieving democratic reforms in China.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Eleven years’ imprisonment and three subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

September 12, 2016

Prison address:
刘兴荣
广西壮族自治区桂林市
横塘路74号
桂林监狱
邮编:541004
P.R. China

Family address:
李玉梅
广西桂林市
环城西二路
铁西65栋西1-3-2号
邮编:541001
P.R. China

Liu Zhengyou
(刘正有)
Rights defender

Assisted farmers who lost their land and other vulnerable groups in filing suits in courts and filing appeals to government organs since 2000. 

Fraud (诈骗)

Two years’ imprisonment and a 2,000 RMB fine.

November 11, 2011

Detention address:
刘正有
四川省自贡市自流井区
郭家坳自贡市看守所
邮编643000
P.R. China

Long Hongfei
(龙宏飞)
Dissident

Accused of having established, along with fellow activist Liu Xingrong, the China Workers Party in 2005, an organization with the stated objective of peacefully achieving democratic reforms in China.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Ten years’ imprisonment and two subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

September 12, 2015

Prison address:
龙宏飞
广西壮族自治区桂林市
横塘路74号
桂林监狱
邮编:541004 P.R. China

Family address:
莫秋菊
广西省桂林市翊武路34号2单元4-1
邮编:541001 P.R. China

Lü Gengsong
(吕耿松)
Writer

Author of Corruption in the Communist Party of China [中共贪官污吏] (2000), as well as a number of articles on corruption, organized crime, and political reform. Was involved in rights defense activities, such as reporting on the sentencing of Yang Yunbiao, an anti-eviction activist from Hangzhou

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Four years’ imprisonment and one subsequent year of deprivation of political rights.

August 23, 2011

Prison address:
吕耿松
浙江省杭州市余杭区
闲林镇89信箱080379入监队
邮编:311122
P.R. China

Family’s address:
王雪娥/吕飘旗
浙江省杭州市西湖区
九莲新村31-110-102
邮编:310012
P.R. China

Mao Hengfeng
(毛恒凤)
Mother,
Rights defender

Began petitioning in 1988 after being fired from her job for refusing to abort a second pregnancy. Has been forced into psychiatric hospitals many times following petitioning activities, and suffered many types of abuse and torture while imprisoned in the Shanghai Women’s Prison. Was detained on February 25, 2010, two months after she shouted slogans outside the Beijing court where Liu Xiaobo was being tried.

Disturbing social order (扰乱社会治安秩序)

One and a half years of Reeducation-Through-Labor.

August 24, 2011

RTL facility address:
毛恒凤
安徽省合肥市清溪路105号
安徽省女劳教所 二大队
邮编:230031
P.R. China

Family address:
吴学伟
上海市杨浦区
黄兴路1号811室
邮编:200090
P.R. China

Sun Xiaodi
(孙小弟)
Environmental activist

Reported, for the past two decades, on the grave consequences of nuclear contamination on workers and the environment brought about by the No. 792 Uranium Mine, where he once worked.

Detained on suspicion of “illegally providing state secrets abroad” (为境外非法提供国家秘密)

Two years of Reeducation-Through-Labor.

June 15, 2011

RTL facility address:
孙小弟
地址 甘肃省兰州市红古区
平安镇第一劳教所
邮编:730086
P.R. China

Family address:
胡建红
甘肃省甘南自治州
迭部县792铀矿场
邮编:747400
P.R. China

Tan Zuoren
(谭作人)
Social and environmental activist, writer

An advocate for families whose children were killed in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Five years’ imprisonment and three subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

March 27, 2014

Prison address:
谭作人
四川省名山县
雅安监狱第一监区
邮编 625100
P.R. China

Family address:
王庆华
四川省成都市
城隍庙信立大厦2楼13号
美声公司
邮编 610081
P.R. China

Wang Bingzhang
(王炳章)
Dissident

Established China Spring, the first overseas pro-democracy Chinese magazine. Launched a movement publicly denouncing the one-party rule in China in the early 1980s. Co-founded the China Freedom Democracy Party and the China Democracy Justice Party. Abducted by Chinese secret agents in Vietnam in June 2002.

Espionage (间谍) and organizing and leading terrorism (组织、领导恐怖组织)

Life in prison.

N/A

Prison address:
王炳章
广东省韶关市
黄岗十里亭北江监狱10号信箱22
邮编512032
P.R. China

Wang Xiaoning
(王小宁)
Writer

Detained after publishing electronic journals on political reform and distributing them online via anonymous mailing lists from 2001 to 2002. Also accused of communicating with Liu Guokai, the leader of the overseas China Social Democratic Party (中国社会民主党), which the Chinese government considers a hostile organization.

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Ten years’ imprisonment and two subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

August 31, 2012

Prison address:
王小宁
北京市朝阳区2357信箱-13分箱
北京第二监狱
邮编 100121
P.R. China

Family address:
俞陵
北京市西城区百万庄申区30号
邮编100037 P.R. China

Xie Changfa
(谢长发)
Hunan Democracy Party Member

Established the Hunan Preparatory Committee of the China Democracy Party, drafted the CDP Manifesto and other documents, and planned and prepared the first convention of CDP representatives nationwide.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Thirteen years’ imprisonment and five years of deprivation of political rights.

June 25, 2021

Prison address:
谢长发
湖南省沅江县
赤山监狱七监区 101信箱
邮编: 413104
P.R. China

Family address:
谢长帧
湖南省长沙市开福区
营盘街社区王祠巷12号
邮编: 410008
P.R. China

Xie Fulin
(谢福林)
Rights defender, signer of Charter 08

Participated in the Union of Chinese Nationalists (中国泛蓝联盟) in 2005. Signer of Charter 08, and a founder of China Human Rights Forum. Organized rights defense activities concerning forced eviction cases.

Larceny (盗窃)

Six years’ imprisonment and a 30,000 RMB fine.

July 22, 2015

Prison address:
谢福林
湖南省长沙第一 监狱五监区
邮编410005 P.R. China

Family address:
金焰
湖南省长沙市芙蓉区 浏正街119号
邮编410005 P.R. China

Xu Kun
(许坤)
Village chief, rights defender

Chief of Baihutou Village in Guangxi Province and a major figure in a dispute starting in 2006 between the inhabitants of the village and the Beihai Municipal Government over what the villagers alleged as the authorities’ unlawful expropriation of village land.

Detained on May 15, 2010, for “illegal business activities” (非法经营)

Still awaiting a trial.

Unknown

Detention address:
许坤
广西省北海市第二看守所
邮编 536000
P.R. China

Family address:
冯广梅
广西省北海市银滩镇白虎头村
邮编 536000
P.R. China

Xu Wanping
(许万平)
Democracy activist, writer

Participated in the China Democracy Party, wrote articles critical of the government, and organized donations for the families of imprisoned CDP members.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Twelve years’ imprisonment and four subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

April 29, 2017

Prison address:
重庆市江北区
唐家沱巴豆园
渝州监狱11监区
许万平
邮编 400026
P.R. China

Family address:
重庆市大渡口区
九宫庙106栋8号
陈贤英
邮编 400084
P.R. China

Xu Wei
(徐伟)
Reporter and editor of Consumers Daily

Helped establish the New Youth Study Association (新青年学会), an organization aimed at exploring ways to implement social reform.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Ten years’ imprisonment and two subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

March 12, 2011

Prison address:
徐伟
北京市3554信箱9信箱
邮编102100
P.R. China

Yang Chunlin
(杨春林)
Land rights defender

Organized an open letter campaign in 2007 called “We Want Human Rights, Not The Olympics,” which received over 10,000 signatures. Supported a lawsuit brought by over 40,000 farmers affected by land confiscation.

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Five years’ imprisonment and two subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

July 5, 2012

Prison address:
杨春林
黑龙江省佳木斯市
香兰监狱7监区
邮编 154731
P.R. China

Family address:
杨春平
黑龙江省佳木斯市
前进区永安小区
100楼
3单元602
邮编 154002
P.R. China

Yang Maodong (Guo Feixiong)
(杨茂东[郭飞雄])
Rights defender, writer

Provided legal support in a number of controversial rights defense cases. In 2005, served as an advisor to the law firm where attorney Gao Zhisheng worked at the time.

Illegal business activities (非法经营)

Five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 40,000 RMB.

September 13, 2011

Prison address:
杨茂东
广东省梅州市
梅州三路66号六监区
(21号信箱)杨茂东收
邮编:514034 
P.R. China

Yang Tongyan (Yang Tianshui)
(杨同彦 [杨天水])
Writer

An outspoken commentator, who has called repeatedly and openly for democratic reform and official accountability for human rights abuses by the Chinese government. Sentenced to 10 years for participating in the 1989 Democracy Movement. Published articles criticizing the Party dictatorship soon after he was released in 2000.

Subversion of state power (颠覆国家政权)

Twelve years’ imprisonment and four subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

December 22, 2017

Prison address:
杨同彦
江苏省南京市
宁双路9号南京监狱
1215信箱13分箱
邮编:210012
P.R. China

Family’s address:
杨桂香
江苏省宿迁市泗阳县
红光招商城海尔专卖店
邮编:223700
P.R. China

 

Yang Yunbiao
(杨云彪)
Land rights defender

Was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after attempting to prevent the forcible demolition of his home in 2006. Detained in September 2009 while he was petitioning in Beijing for compensation for his demolished house and to get the villagers’ land back.

Sabotaging production and business (破坏生产经营)

Three years’ imprisonment.

September 23, 2012

Prison address:
杨云彪
浙江省杭州市
东郊监狱九监区
邮编 311101
P.R. China

Family address:
孔秋华
杭州市西湖区转塘镇大诸桥村孔秋华收
邮编 310024 P.R. China

Alimjan Yimit (Alimujiang Yimiti) (阿里木江-依米提)
Christian activist

A longtime house church leader in Kashgar. Accused of providing state secrets to an American Christian in 2007.

Illegally providing state secrets to a foreigner (为境外人员非法提供国家秘密)

Fifteen years’ imprisonment.

January 11, 2023

Prison address:
阿里木江-依米提
新疆乌鲁木齐市乌市东站路1339 号
新疆第三监狱第十一监区
郵編:830013
P.R. China

 

Yuan Xianchen
(袁显臣)
Barefoot lawyer

Accused of drafting articles criticizing the Communist Party, accepted interviews by foreign media, associated with rights defense groups, accepted donations from rights defense groups, and organized workers between 2005 and 2008.

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Four years’ imprisonment and five subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

May 28, 2012

Prison address:
袁显臣
黑龙江省哈尔滨市道外区
团结镇天恒大街18号
东风监狱第9监区
邮编 150059
P.R. China

Family address:
张淑芝
黑龙江鸡西市滴道区
东兴法律事务所
邮编 158150
P.R. China

Zhang Qi
(张起)
Rights defender

Actively participated in the Union of Chinese Nationalists (中国泛蓝联盟) in 2006 and 2007 and wrote and published articles online advocating political reform and a multiparty system between June 2006 and March 2007.

Inciting subversion of state power (煽动颠覆国家政权)

Four years’ imprisonment and two subsequent years of deprivation of political rights.

May 15, 2012 Prison address:

张起
重庆市江北区
渝州监狱 11监区
邮编400026
P.R. China

Family address:
吴克儒
重庆市沙坪坝区
汉渝路35 号4-1
邮编400030
P.R. China

Error | Human Rights in China 中国人权 | HRIC