Eighteen Chinese lawyers have made a public offer to provide legal help to Tibetans detained in connection with last month's protests in the Lhasa area and the subsequent violent crackdown on these protests by the Chinese security forces. Their offer of legal assistance, which appeared this week on a number of Chinese Internet forums, follows the arrest of what is believed to be hundreds of Tibetans as part of the crackdown.

Among the lawyers signing the offer is Teng Biao, one of China's most prominent rights defense lawyers. The group appeals to other lawyers to join their cause and appeals to the authorities to deal with the arrested Tibetans "in strict accordance with the Constitution, laws, and related criminal procedures" of China. "We express here that we are paying close attention to related cases, and are willing to offer legal aid to arrested Tibetans," the 18 lawyers say.

Following is an English translation by Human Rights in China of this document.


Attachment

Source: Participating writers – Teng Biao and others (reprinted by Boxun News Network, http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/04/200804022305.shtml)

We are willing to Offer Legal Aid to Arrested Tibetans
April 2, 2008

According to reports from within the country, hundreds have already been arrested for the "March 14" incident which occurred in Tibetan areas. As professional lawyers, we hope that the departments concerned will deal with arrested Tibetans in strict accordance with the Constitution, laws, and related criminal procedures; put an end to the extortion of confessions by torture; respect the independence of the judiciary; and uphold the honor of the law. We express here that we are paying close attention to related cases, and are willing to offer legal aid to arrested Tibetans.

Signatories (Group 1: 18 people, in alphabetical order by pinyin surnames):

• Cheng Hai (Beijing Zhenghai Law Firm)
  
• Guo Yan (Guangdong Province)
  
• Jiang Tianyong (Beijing Gaobo Longhua Law Firm)
  
• Li Xiongbing (Beijing Gaobo Longhua Law Firm)
  
• Li Dunyong (Beijing Gongxin Law Firm)
  
• Li Subin (Beijing Yitong Law Firm)
  
• Mo Hongluo (Henan Runluo Law Firm)
  
• Liu Yajun (Beijing Yitong Law Firm)
  
• Peng Jian (Beijing Hanliang Law Firm)
  
• Sun Jianguo (Jiangsu Jialan Law Firm)
  
• Teng Biao (Beijing Huayi Law Firm)
  
• Tang Jingling (Guangdong Province)
  
• Wei Rujiu (Beijing Shengting Law Firm)
  
• Wen Haibo (Beijing Yitong Law Firm)
  
• Wu Hongwei (Beijing Haiming Law Firm)
  
• Zhang Hai (Shandong Huaguan Law Firm)
  
• Zhang Jiankang (Shaanxi Province)
  
• Zhang Jianguo (Beijing Dongfang Hengxin Law Firm)
  
  

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