Chinese activist Dong Guangping will be tried in April 2017 for “subverting state power” and “crossing the national border illegally”. Detained since his forcible return to China in November 2015, he has had no access to his family or a lawyer of his choice and is at risk of an unfair trial.
Dong Guangping (source: Boxun News)
Dong Guangping, has been indicted for “subverting state power” and “crossing the national border illegally” by the Chongqing Municipal No.1 Intermediate People’s Court. According to his government appointed lawyer, Dong Guangping will be tried in April 2017 and could face life imprisonment if convicted.
More than 16 months after his forcible return to China, Dong Guangping’s family have yet to receive any notification from authorities about his whereabouts, arrest, indictment or charges against him. As a recognized refugee, Dong Guangping had been accepted for rapid resettlement in a third country however five days before he was scheduled to depart, on 13 November 2015, he was forcibly returned to China.
On 30 May 2016, the human rights lawyer hired by Dong Guangping’s family visited the detention centre where he was believed to be detained. While the staff in the detention centre admitted that Dong Guangping was being held there, they rejected the lawyer’s request to meet him. In response to the subsequent complaint that he was being barred from meeting with his client, the police verbally informed the lawyer that Dong Guangping had been arrested on suspicion of violating national security and therefore could not meet him without permission from the investigating authority.
In July 2016, authorities from Chongqing, in western China, asked Dong Guangping’s family to replace their lawyer with two that had been appointed by the government. Despite their refusal, in August 2016 when the lawyer hired by the family again requested to meet with Dong Guangping at the detention centre, staff stated that he had hired two other lawyers and refused to meet with any other lawyer.
Please write immediately in Chinese, English or your own language urging the authorities to:
Ensure that Dong Guangping is tried in line with international fair trial standards and not for the peaceful exercise of his human rights;
Ensure that while in detention Dong Guangping is not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment, has regular, unrestricted access to his family, lawyers of his choice, and medical care on request or as necessary;
Cease requesting other countries return individuals to China in violation of international law.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 11 MAY 2017 TO:
Director of Chongqing Municipal No.2 Detention Centre
Chongqing Shi Dier Kanshousuo
6 Shengan Lu
Fusheng Zhen
Jiangbei Qu
Chongqing Shi 401133
People’s Rebulic of China
Salutation: Dear Director
Director of Municipal Public Security Bureau
He Ting Juzhang
555 Huanglong Lu
Yubei Qu
Chongqing Shi 401120
People’s Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Director
And copies to:
Minister of Public Security
Guo Shengkun Buzhang
Gonganbu
14 Dongchangan Jie
Dongcheng Qu
Beijing Shi 100741
Tel: +86 10 66262114 (in Chinese only)
