Human Rights in China has learned that authorities have closely monitored activities carried out on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the 1989 June Fourth crackdown, and harassed numerous individuals attempting to commemorate the anniversary.
The Tiananmen Mothers, an organization of family members of the victims of the crackdown, still sought to mourn June Fourth victims. Ding Zilin (丁子霖) and Xu Jue (徐珏) visited Mu Xidi, and Zhang Xianling (张先玲) and Huang Jinping (黄金平) went to Wan'an Cemetery to pay their respects. Yin Min (尹敏), after being warned by police, decided to commemorate the dead from home.
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A "June Fourth Memorial," hosted by a human rights symposium...was dispersed by authorities.
Authorities also monitored other mourners. On June 3, when rights defense lawyer Pu Zhiqiang (浦志强) was preparing to go to Tiananmen Square to stand in silent tribute to June Fourth victims, he was escorted home by state security police, sources say. Dissident Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波) and his wife were stopped by police as they were leaving home for dinner, and when he refused to speak with the officers, they forced him into a local guard post which was set up to monitor his activities.
Sources also say that on the afternoon of June 4, a "June Fourth Memorial," hosted by a human rights symposium organized by activists in the Guiyang City Square, was dispersed by authorities. More than 200 police entered the square and arrested participants. Shen Younian (申有连), Tian Zuxiang (田祖湘), Wu Damin (吴大敏), Liao Shuangyuan (廖双元), and others were detained. Other individuals attempted to go to the ceremony but were prevented from leaving their homes.
On the afternoon of June 4, Chen Xi (陈西) was on his way to mourn June Fourth victims in Beijing but was intercepted by police at Guiyang Airport. He was taken to a local police station and held there for more than 10 hours. He was not released until early in the morning of June 5. After he was released, Chen Xi continued to be harassed by police who had broken into his home. Chen Defu (陈德富) was also harassed in his home by police who had broken in. During the ensuing argument, Chen’s finger was twisted to the point of being broken. Later he was taken to the local police station and held for between 7 and 8 hours. On June 4, Du Heping (杜和平) was forcibly sent 100 kilometers away by the police on "a tour." The day before, university student Song Zerui's (宋泽睿) school threatened him with expulsion if he participated in June Fourth memorial events.
Others individuals were also taken away in Guiyang and held by police until June 5, including Pan Fuyao (潘福尧), Zhang Mingzhen (张明珍), Mo Jiangang (莫建刚), Xu Guoqing (徐国庆), Zhang Chongfa (张重发), Li Renke (李任科), and Wu Yu (吴郁).
On June 4, Jiang Qisheng (江棋生), Zhang Zuhua (张祖桦), Ding Zilin (丁子霖), Jiang Peikun (蒋培坤), Liao Yiwu (廖亦武), Liu Di (刘荻), Zhao Dagong (赵达功), Wen Kejian (温克坚), Jiang Danwen (蒋亶文), Du Daobin (杜导斌), Wang Guangze (王光泽), Yang Kuanxing (杨宽兴), Ye Huo (野火), Ye Du (野渡), and Liu Yiming (刘逸) wrote an open letter of protest condemning the authorities' behavior as "blatant neglect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and "open blasphemy against the Olympic Charter." An English translation of this letter, prepared by Human Rights in China, is appended to this Press Advisory.
Attachment: Open Letter, dated June 4, 2008
On the night of June Fourth, we protest the police’s violent treatment of Mr. Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波).
Exactly 19 years ago, in full view of the public eye, the Chinese government brazenly drew upon fully armed troops to drown defenseless citizens and students in blood and engineered the shocking massacre, tragedy, and calamity of June Fourth.
For 19 years, the Chinese government has not only refused to acknowledge and repent for the inhumane criminal acts they committed, but they also continue to execute various forms of political persecution on citizens who insist on freedom, human rights, democracy, and rule of law.
For 19 years, every time June 4 approaches, authorities openly transmit unconstitutional orders and instruct the public security and national security departments to conduct illegal monitoring, surveillance, house arrests, and detentions of the June Fourth community of victims, and even authorize the use of violent means to strip them of their personal freedom.
Just yesterday, when preparing to go to Tiananmen Square to stand in silent tribute to June Fourth victims, rights defense lawyer Pu Zhiqiang (浦志强) was forcibly escorted home by state security police. That night, around 6pm, Liu Xiaobo and his wife were preparing to return to their parents’ home for dinner when they were attacked by police who were looking for them “for a chat.” When Liu Xiaobo refused their unreasonable demand, they used brazen force to stop him and used crude and uncivilized means to drag him into a small dark room where police were on duty.
How far is “too far”? This is too far.
For 19 years, Mr. Liu Xiaobo has adhered to the concept of peaceful and rational resistance. He has relentlessly called for citizens to avoid using violence to protest violence, and to use tolerance and dialogue to reconcile enmity. But the government has unexpectedly used savage means to treat this kind of freedom intellectual. This once again illustrates that although in 2004 the Chinese government added a clause respecting human rights into the constitution, on this, our nation's soil, constitutional provisions are not implemented. Chinese citizens' basic human rights still lack even the most rudimentary guarantee.
We hereby advise related authorities: do not reduplicate these kinds of foolish actions, do not put your faith in power and violence, do not employ police force that violates the constitution. For this is blatant neglect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is openly blasphemy against the Olympic Charter (奥林匹克宪章).
June 4, 2008
Jiang Qisheng (江棋生)
Zhang Zuhua (张祖桦)
Ding Zilin (丁子霖)
Jiang Peikun (蒋培坤)
Liao Yiwu (廖亦武)
Liu Di (刘 荻)
Zhao Dagong (赵达功)
Wen Kejian (温克坚)
Jiang Danwen (蒋亶文)
Du Daobin (杜导斌)
Wang Guangze (王光泽)
Yang Kuanxing (杨宽兴)
Ye Huo (野 火)
Ye Du (野 渡)
Liu Yiming (刘逸明)
For additional information about June Fourth prisoners, see:
- Press Advisory: Chinese Authorities Must Release All June Fourth Prisoners, June 4, 2008, http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/55562;
- Take Action to Release All June Fourth Prisoners in China, http://www.ir2008.org/06/issue-action.php
- Recently-launched website of the Tiananmen Mothers: http://www.tiananmenmother.org/;
- HRIC Statement: Chinese authorities should respond to calls for dialogue by the Tiananmen Mothers, February 27, 2008, http://hrichina.org/public/contents/47439;
- HRIC Press Statement: "Tiananmen Mothers" Website Blocked in China , May 28, 2008, http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/55084;
- HRIC Press Release: “Tiananmen Mothers” Publish Maps Including Locations of June Fourth Victims’ Deaths, May 27, 2008, http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/54976;
- HRIC Statement: Congratulations to the Tiananmen Mothers on the Establishment of their Website, May 27, 2008 http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/55062;
- HRIC’s "About the Tiananmen Mothers" Section: http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/category?cid=8301.