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A Global Joint Statement on the 3rdAnniversary of 709 Crackdown and China Human Rights Lawyers’ Day
2018-07-09
A Global Joint Statement on the 3rdAnniversary of 709 Crackdown and China Human Rights Lawyers’ Day
July 9, 2018 marks the 3rdanniversary of the 709 Crackdown, a massive clampdown by the Chinese authorities on human rights lawyers and activists, and the 2ndanniversary of the China Human Rights Lawyers’ Day. During the past year, we have witnessed the Chinese government’s unceasing, unconstitutional and unlawful suppression of rights lawyers and civil society rights in the pretext of “ruling the country in accordance with law,” which we strongly condemn. We urge the Chinese government immediately and unconditionally to release the lawyers and activists detained in the 709 Crackdown, immediately and unconditionally to withdraw the administrative sanctions in respect of the revocation and invalidation of rights lawyers’ practice licenses, and to stop all forms of harassment, intimidation and repression of human rights lawyers.
After the 19thNational Congress of the Communist Party of China (19thParty Congress) in 2017 – China has entered a new totalitarian era of Xi Jinping’s socialism, with his personal power at its peak. With the goal of rooting out the rights defenders’ movement, the Chinese government has gone to great lengths as far as consolidating state power through constitutional amendments and repressing civil society by means of draconian laws, leading to a decline in civil society’s capacity to monitor the government. As the head of the “New Five Black Categories,” human rights lawyers will surely be the first to be cracked down on.
Updates of 709 Lawyers and Activists
In response to this era of unprecedented repression, the China Human Rights Lawyers’ Day was set up to recognize Chinese rights lawyers’ courage and determination, as well as to make known their perseverance in resisting against the oppressive regime. The 709 Crackdown and its persisting aftermath remain the major concerns of the China Human Rights Lawyers’ Day on its 2ndanniversary.
Numerous lawyers and activists involved in the crackdown were sentenced last year; several victims are still under detention. Lawyer Jiang Tianyong, who joined forces with 709 families to defend the arrested lawyers, was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment for “inciting subversion of state power.” Wu Gan, an active civil activist and vocal critic of the judicial system, stated in his appellate brief the people’s deserved right to overthrow an autocratic regime. Wu was charged with “subverting state power” and sentenced to a prison term of 7 years. Convicted of “inciting subversion of state power,” Lawyer Xie Yang suffered various tortures while in detention, such as beatings, “tiger chair”, sleep deprivation, etc. Since being taken away in July 2015, lawyer Wang Quanzhang has been held incommunicado and forbidden to meet his family or lawyers appointed by his family. In an open letter during the 19thParty Congress, Wang’s former defense lawyer Yu Wensheng demanded Xi Jinping’s resignation and immediate constitutional amendment, but was charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and “interference with public duties.” Yu has now been detained for 5 months. Lawyer Zhou Shifeng, former director of Fengrui Law Firm, and veteran activist elder Hu Shigen were convicted of “subverting the state power.” They are serving their respective sentences of 7 years and 7 years and 6 months; Hu is said to be suffering from deteriorating health. Under the charges of “picking quarrels and provoking troubles” and fraud, Wang Yu’s defense lawyer Li Yuhan has been held in custody for over 8 months, despite her daily need of a number of drugs for her chronic diseases. Yin Xuan and Wang Fang were sentenced to 3 years and 6 months and 3 years respectively for “picking quarrels and provoking troubles,” simply because they showed support for the 709 lawyers.
The 709 Crackdown has affected no fewer than 321 persons, many of whom have been forced to confess under torture and have been deprived of the right to an open and transparent trial, while countless of others face repression merely because of their relationship with the victims, or are revenged by administrative penalty.[1]The Chinese government’s crushing of rights lawyers and activists is not only an infringement of the country’s criminal procedure law, but also a violation of the constitution and international conventions.
Aftermath of 709 – Repression in Disguise of Administrative Punishment
Human rights lawyers are living under constant threat as suppression is being stepped up. The revision and adoption of Measures for the Administration of Law Firmsand Administrative Measures for the Practice of Law by Lawyersin 2016 serve as the legal basis for the Ministry of Justice to impose administrative sanctions on lawyers. Law is no longer rights lawyers’ weapon against the autocratic government; it has been altered to provide whitewash for the regime. Since the 19thParty Congress, 16 human rights lawyers and 3 law firms have already received notification of revocation or invalidation of practice license, half of the lawyers involved are closely related to the victims of 709 Crackdown.[2]Some of the law firms have even been forced by the Ministry of Justice to disband or to dismiss certain lawyers. Meanwhile, the notorious annual inspection system continues as a way to clamp down on human rights lawyers. By means of reviewing the types of cases lawyers have represented and lawyers’ online speech, the annual inspection system not only monitors lawyers’ conduct of practice, but also extends its grip to their personal comments and actions. The subtle measure of license revocation and invalidation has been carefully devised by the Chinese government, in order to thoroughly wipe out the human rights lawyers’ community, without provoking international rebuke. On the one hand, the revocation and invalidation of practice licenses can directly deprive lawyers of their means of livelihood, leading to a chilling effect among human rights lawyers. On the other hand, lawyers will then be deterred from taking up human rights cases, resulting in the shrinking of the rights lawyers’ community. Given the vital role of human rights lawyers in the rights defending movement, this new wave of repression through lawyers’ license revocation and invalidation will have a great impact on the sustainability of the entire movement.
Demand
It has come to our attention that the core of the “ruling the country in accordance with law” slogan proposed by the Chinese government is to systemize and institutionalize its repressive measures. We strongly condemn the Chinese government’s ceaseless suppression of and persecution of human rights lawyers, which violate the law and the constitution. We urge the Chinese government to:
- immediately release all human rights lawyers and activists detained in the 709 Crackdown, to revoke their convictions and to uphold justice for the human rights defenders;
- make known the condition of Wang Quanzhang, Yu Wensheng and Li Yuhan, and to guarantee their right of legal actions, and immediately and unconditionally release them;
- immediately and unconditionally withdraw all decisions about revoking and invalidating lawyers’ licenses and other administrative punishments;
- stop all forms of harassment and repression against the human rights lawyers’ community, to ensure that lawyers do not suffer intimidation, hindrance, inappropriate interference, prosecution and administrative sanctions for taking cases or for giving speeches in accordance with their recognized professional duties;
The Hope of Rights Defending Movement
Though the regime may seem invincible, the 709 Crackdown in fact reveals the government’s fear of the consolidation of rights defending forces and the speedy expansion of the human rights lawyers’ community. The Crackdown did not deter, but prompted the victims’ families to join the movement for the sake of their loved ones. Having protested for countless times against the judiciary bodies, Li Wenzu embarked on a 1,000-kilometer march to Tianjian to ‘look for’ her husband Wang Quanzhang; Xu Yan, wife of Yu Wensheng, exhausted all institutional means to defend her husband. Their perseverance and determination, together with the fierce international criticisms and a new generation of human rights lawyers that has emerged after the 709 Crackdown, exert immense pressure on the Chinese government. As long as we persist in our striving for justice, there is still a light of hope amidst the darkness.
9th July, 2018
Initiators:
中國維權律師關注組China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group
臺灣聲援中國人權律師網絡Taiwan Support China Human Rights Lawyers Network
Co-signatories:
Hong Kong
Asia Monitor Resource Centre 亞洲專訊資料研究中心
Borderless Movement 無國界社運
Community March 社區前進
Civic Party 公民黨
Demosisto 香港眾志
Global Monitor 全球化監察
Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China 香港市民支援愛國民主運動聯合會
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions 香港職工會聯盟
Justice and Peace Commission of HK Catholic Diocese 香港天主教正義和平委員會
Labour Education and Service Network 勞工教育及服務網絡
Labour Party HK 工黨
League of Social Democrats 社會民主連線
Left 21 左翼廿一
New School for Democracy 華人民主書院
Progressive Lawyers Group 法政匯思
Student Fight for Democracy 大專政改關注組
The Democratic Party 民主黨
Taiwan
Association for Taiwan Indigenous Peoples' Policies 台灣原住民族政策協會
Awakening Foundation 婦女新知基金會
Covenants Watch 人權公約施行監督聯盟
Economic Democracy Union 經濟民主連合
Environmental Jurists Association 環境法律人協會
Green Citizens' Action Alliance 綠色公民行動聯盟
Green Party Taiwan 綠黨
God Knows Café 天曉得咖啡
Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan 西藏台灣人權連線
Judicial Reform Foundation 民間司法改革基金會
New Power Party 時代力量
Nylon Cheng Liberty Foundation 鄭南榕基金會
Parliamentary Cross-party Group on International Human Rights 台灣立法院跨黨派國際人權促進會
Prison Watch 監所關注小組
Taipei Bar Association 台北律師公會
Taiwan Alliance to End Death Penalty 台灣廢除死刑推動聯盟
Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights 社團法人台灣伴侶權益推動聯盟
Taiwan Association for Human Rights 台灣人權促進會
Taiwan Association of University Professors 台灣教授協會
Taiwan Friends for Tibet 台灣圖博之友會
Taiwan Friends of Uyghur 台灣維吾爾之友會
Taiwan Forever Association 台灣永社
Taiwan Health Rights Initiative 臺灣健康人權行動協會
Taiwan Innocence Project 台灣寃獄平反協會
Taiwan International Medical Alliance 台灣國際醫學聯盟
Taiwan Labor and Social Policy Research Association 臺灣勞動與社會政策研究協會
Taiwan Labor Front 台灣勞工陣線
Taiwan Occupational Safety and Health Link 臺灣職業安全健康連線
Taiwan Students for a Democratic China 台灣學生促進中國民主化工作會
Taiwan Students for a Free Tibet 臺灣自由圖博學會
Taiwan Youth Anti-Communist Corps 台灣青年反共救國團
The Chen Wen-chen Memorial Foundation 陳文成博士紀念基金會
Thinkers’ Corner 想想人文空間
Voicettank of Taiwan Thinktank 台灣智庫《思想坦克》
Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, Taiwan 台灣蠻野心足生態協會
Youth Synergy 青平台
Japan
Human Rights Now
The Netherlands
Lawyers For Lawyers 律師助律師基金會
The US
Human Rights In China 中國人權
Other International organizations
Chinese PEN Center in Exile 獨立中文作家筆會
Individual signatories：
Stuart Russell, Co-director of International Association of People's Lawyers Monitoring Committee, France 國際人民律師協會監督委員會聯席主任, 法國
Pils, Eva, Reader in Transnational Law Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London
Szu-Jung Liu, Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Taiwan Bar Association 劉思龍律師，中華民國律師公會全國聯合會人權保護委員會主任委員
Alvin Yeung, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor 楊岳橋，香港立法會議員
Charles Peter Mok, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor 莫乃光，香港立法會議員
Claudia Mo, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor 毛孟靜，香港立法會議員
Dennis Kwok, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor 郭榮鏗，香港立法會議員
Jeremy Tam, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor 譚文豪，香港立法會議員
Kwok Ka Ki, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor 郭家麒，香港立法會議員
Tanya Chan, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor 陳淑莊，香港立法會議員
Au Nok-hin, Hong Kong Legislative Councilor 區諾軒，香港立法會議員
Lee Cheuk Yan, former Legislative Councilor in Hong Kong 李卓人，前香港立法會議員
Alan Leong, former Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association & former Legislative Councilor in Hong Kong 梁家傑，前大律師公會主席及前香港立法會議員
Arthur Cheung
Yin Lock
Venus Cheng
Kam Yuen Tsoi
Joshua Wong
Winnie Kwok
Bowen Cheung
Leung Po Ling
Thomas Yu
CW Liu
Nicole Izsak
Wilson Chan
Zhifeng Lei
Tommy Lee
Jimmy Chan
Stanley Luk
Chi Ming Paul Chung
Martin Toshing
Shirley Wong
Yang Ying
Wing Yan Chong
Chi Hung Lau
Chin Hing Choi
Liza Wong
Defoe Chan
Allen But
Yujian Zhang
Edith To
Yutong Su
Po Hi Yeung
Wai Yim
Chow Chung Nin
King Yin Pang
Chu Mo Fong
Sum-lung Wong
Alvin Cheung
Kit Ling Luk
Bianling Jin
Sau Ting Lam
KL Lee
Antonio Luk
Yuen Wah Fong
Andy Wong
Law Wai Lin
Ho Shiu Kwan
Susan Chiu
Chungchi Che
Grace Wong
Natalie Hui
Henry Lai
Cofa Tsui
Nga Ting Leung
Sabrina Lau
Dân Việt Công bằng, Dân chủ và Văn minh
Phu Pham
Nguyen Ngoc
Viet Ha Trang
Tai Le
Vo Kha
Nguyen Dung
Almo Gobber
Ray Wong
Catherine Chien
Peter Dang
Joshua Au
Chan Che Wai
Dau Nguyen Van
Linh Nguyen
Alvin Lau
Daniel Suen
Yau Yau
文質彬
Francine Chan
Luuvan Quang
Wai Man Wan
Michelle Chiu
TK Wong
莫惠儀
Theresa Tang
Nicole Pong
Aurora Chan
Kimberley Chan
John Chung
Yau Ka Hei
Tang Chi Ho
Raymond Cheung
Oi Ha Chan
Ng Ling Fung
Joyce Wong
Oscar Ngai
Marco Galope
Tony Phuah
Hsingchung Wang
Thomas Ma
Alice Yeung
Jacklin Chang
張文惠
Chun Kit Wong
徐悅怡
Nesel Gestiada
陳思穎
H Lai
Jeff Chang
Ying Tsang
Ying Fuk Tsang
Sze Chiu Ng
Ka Ming Chan
Wing Choi Daniel Chan
James Callaghan
Charlene Kwan
Yuenching Yip
Hei Ho
馬超順
Elena Pangayan
Yep Siu Kei
Ka Lun Ng
Wong Ming Lun
Wilfred Yeung
Kwok Cheong Cheung
Milton Chang
Iris Tse
Salif Khan
Fung Ben
Henry Lau
Ryan Lo
Lee Po
Louis Page
Miles Gomez
Wai Hung Tse
Betty Hui
Chris Jang
SN Kwok
Yiu Kai Au
Ying Chi Lee
Agnes Li
Grace Wong
Rosita Leung
Richard Ciu
Wilson So
Alex Chun Hung Lai
Yeung Sum
Wai Kwok Wong
Priscilla Chiu
Jo Clancey
JT Jason Tsoi
Liu Siu Wah
Emma To
Siu Yu Chan
Suk-shyan Rita Chen
Roger Cheng
Teresa Wai
Jacky
Joe Moe
Po Yuen Fai
Wai Ng
Cheng Cheuk Yiu
Indah Kusmiati
Gordon Li
Eric Yip
Law Ming Lee
Prisca Lau
Ken Ho
Zheng Chen He Zheng Chen He
Andy Tsang
Chew BS
Robert C W Pang
Steve Son
Ambrose Shu Kay Law
Hingwai Tse
Anisha Maroof
Matloob Zomlica
Keung Po Lam
Allin Sense
Wai Ching Tang
Lam Yi
Yip Kareb
Aroosa Khuram
Ismaeel Hussain
Cheung Yat Lai
Mickey Chan Cheuk Hong
Ng Nigga
Jacika Walker
Bosco Leung
Lam Candice
Leung On Na
Wu Kai
Suen Wang Tat
Lok
Wing Yi Ngai
Molly Fung
Dickson Lee
林衍成(Lam In Seng)
Cyrus So
Louisa Chow
Lulu Ash
Lam Ling
William Ki
Rachya Thapa
Vi Tran
Chun Yan Ho
Kwok Kuen Chan
Stephen Char
Andrew Lo
Andrew Chiu
Emily Lau
Benny Yu
Alfred Yeung
Helena Wong
Beatrice Chu
Bonnie Ng
You Kwan So
Shirley Kwok
Cyd Ho
Alexander Taptsov
Richard Tsoi
Shui Tai Cheng
Ho Fred
Ao Sio Heng
Cheuk Ting Lam
Carol Chen
Florence Chan
Chak Man Li
Jeff Yau
Lina Lee
Tan Yuk Ching
Chi Wood Fung
Stanley Ng
Law Ka Ching
Eric Ho Chuen Wong
Joey Lam
Isaac Chan
Cheung Kam Fai
Ramon Yuen
Wong Suet Mui
Irene Lee
Brenda Chan
Yiu Kwong Chong
Cheong Ching
羅沃啟
Elsa Ko
Daisy Tse
Singkit Lo
Betsy Leung
Y Yung
Paul Chan
Kit Wai Wong
Charm Luen Wong
Bruce Lui
Mei
Francis So
Siriphorn Chaiphet
Paul Lai
Chu Maggie
Chi Wai Wu
Kam Ng
Chiwai Wong
Andy K S To To
Cheuk Ming Li
Senia Ng
施宙辰
Lee Lai
Kin Yuen Ip
Tinchi Pun
Judy Kwok
Phyllis Luk
Sylvia Mah
Michael Ho
J Patterson
Rebecca Po
Litwin Cheng
Ocean Fung
Yung Wai Hin
Philip Dykes
Shu-ying Chan
MC Cheung
Chan Man Tak
Theresa Chu
Wilson Leung
King Wong
Benny Mok
Au Yeung Yin Chun
Lucille Mok
Chan King Tang
Alan Lo
Karen C
Wai Kwan Chu
Henry Chan
Ivy Li
Albert Chan
Yeung Yu Him
Kim Man
Christopher Ptaszynski-Neophytou
Lilian Lo
Candice Lo
Rose Wu
Katy Wong
Alan Leung
Alan Leung
Virginia Yau
PlaySandcwm Vanesaa
Gery Warner, Peng
Maxis Yau
A Mam
Poon Suet Chi
Doris P. C. Ko
Edith Wong
Lo Cheung
Wai Lan Cheng
David Ng
Trịnh Hữu Long
Benny Yeung
Yunmei Li
Lucia You
Constant Kim
Alfred Li
Jenny Woo
Wendy Chen
Chelsea Chan
Alex Chan
Amy Chan
黃曉柔
Juliet Wu
Man See Ng
Ma Wing Hei
Yuqi Xiao
Ashley Ko
Mei Leung
Manyee Siu
Ho Wai Hin
Nelson Ho
Suetwah Choi
Rena Lau
Becky Fung
Douglas Lam
李婉君
Cham Sze Lo
Paul Lee
Chi Lau
Chan Ka Man
Kenji Lai
Fredrik Fan
Venessa Chan
Kelly Leung
Tao Chiu Lam
Shui Meng Ng
Ronny Kwong
Florence de Changy
Kwok Ho Lam
Johnny Siu
Chiu Wai Chan
Angie Te
盧敬華
黃嘉輝
Venus Cheng
George Chan
Leung Wing
Venisa Wai
王澄烽
桑普
Ada Lai
Bruce Luz
Elson Tong
岑倚蘭
Esmond Wong
Angela Lee
Rachel Lao
蕭曉華
陳嘯軒
Vera Lung
Katy Siu
Joyce Chan
Joyce Wai
Alli Malone
Amit Bamb
N K. H.
Sheung So
Marisha Bisht
Chen Howard
Kam Yiu Cheng
May Wong
Siu Fai So
Franco Mella
Andrew Wan
Roy Ng
Wu Jun Yen
Chun Wing Lee
Leung Kam Wai
Vincent Yee
姚建清
Wong Ming
Jane Cheung
Terence Halliday
Mei Ling Tsang
Paul Wong
Ching Hin Leung
Andrea Leung
D Pang
Andrew Leung
Leon Kwan
Henry Cao
Ng Lung
Bobbi Lee
Ching Lan Pang
Elaine Wong
Kai Yeung Wong
Ding Chan
Tam Daniel
Tiff Ip
Wing Fei Lo
Miu Kwan
Tai Chung Lam
Penghsuan Lee
Chun Lin
Yan Yin Tse
Raymond Cheung
青木有加
Bhalla Joshua
Ka Ling Wong
E-ling Chiu
Lin Chan
Silvia Lam
Po Lam Yip
Li Laiha
James Chan
Gregory Ma
Yen Wai Chung
Steve Tam
Elvin Chan
錢雲枝
余風
Ethan Chan
Chin Wai Leung
崔愫欣
Tango Beh
Bing Chen
Li Phoebe
Gloria Chan
Peter To
Matthew Lui
Wendy Lee
Yau Brandon
Fung Wa Chan
F L
Karl Wollaeger
許澤流
David Szutu
Yvonne Lo
Wu Mo Cheong Amos
Tina Tseng
Yi Kwan Cheung
K O Lam
Charmaine Chan
Frankie Cheung
Sukhvir Sandhu
KY Poon
Chiu Fan Wong
Roy Poon
Joseph Chow
Polly Fung
Rayne Yuen
Sandra Lo
Lui Po Chu
Cheng Jess
Ka Keung Fung
Lee Clifford
Sibyl Wong
Bonnie Chan
Yan Kit Woo
Alan Wong
Becky Yip
Eric Pun
Queenie Man
Federico Cappelletti
Cathy Sin Ping Wong
Gabriella Fruianu
Chian Eric
Mabel Tung
Norma Wong
Lawrence Pak
Vincent Kwun Leung Lee
Sally Mak
Tim Cheung
Joe Kwok
Hsiu-hsin Lin
Tsui Yee
Ha Lo
Jennifer Chau
Sharon Lambert
Zenghui Fan
Shira Lamb
William Chan
Terence Yiu
Ho Harry Hei Yin
Cecilia Yeung
Wing Yi Shih
Joyce Cheung
Jack Pun
Ming Wong
Ping Wong
Cathy Lung
Ching Wee Sze
Kwok-ying Lau
Wai Hung Leung
Thomas Chow
Lung-kuan Wang
Charles Fung
Lee Eling
Lee K S
Chris Lau
Leslie Rule
Yan Ho Lai
Jeffrey Fong
Farhan Noor
So Chong Ng
Gary Chan
Ming Ki Cheng
Stella Lee
Jack Young
Pang Hing Ting
Keith Tai
Chi Lin Ngan
Ho Yin Chow
Karen Blümcke
Cheung Wai Man
MK Lam
Geoff Cheng
Daisy Chan
Pak Ming Fai
Tammy Kay
Ellihcor Ebar
Chui Kwok
Huen Yee
Kai Wong
Yoyo Lam
Ken Lai
Lai King Fai
Woo Ka Lai
Wendy Chung
Gladys Wong
Gilda Szeto
Christine Lee
Angie Bucu
Yuen Fung Mak
Andrew Quay
Minny Lau
Bryan Au Yeung
David Saunders
Tho Cha
David Chan
Law Saku
Sum Yip
Ann Wong
Eric Law
Ho Wun Chan
Angus Ma
Cannie Chan
SANDY逍遙
Carmen Yu
Gloria Lam
Lui Kit Ho
林詩涵
Rose Chan
Chung Yat Cheng
Kelvin Kwok
Douglas Tam
Sun Hsinhui
Hilary Ko
Lyla Gallagher
Ho Ting Lee
Kim Hoe Tee
Ashley Law
Veronica Ko
Jianhong Wang
Dan Lee
Angie Tabaculde Tubon
Louisa Wong
Amuro Lee
Chrisrina Liang
Yanki Kwok
Anders Hotspur
ManSum Chiu
Edmond Lam
Puiwa Lee
Ray Halpin
Raymond Chan
Ching Mui Choi
Edward Wong
William Tong
Fanny Wong
Yi Man Alexa Wong
SF Siu
[1][“709 Crackdown”] Latest Data and Development of Cases as of 1800 17 May 2018, https://tinyurl.com/ybmsjqqf
[2][A Joint Statement to Strongly Condemn the Chinese Government’s Suppression against Human Rights Lawyers through Revocation and Invalidation of Lawyers’ Licenses], https://tinyurl.com/y6uljnzu
