AI Index : ASA 17/040/2005
Further Information on UA 271/05 (ASA 17/037/2005, 14 October 2005)
25 October 2005
Chen Guangcheng, aged 34, who is under a form of house arrest in the village of Dongshigu in the eastern province of Shandong, was reportedly kicked and beaten by a group of people when he tried to leave his house on 24 October. He was injured in the attack but was denied access to medical treatment. Amnesty International fears he is at risk of further abuse.
According to a report from US-based Radio Free Asia (RFA), Chen Guangcheng was assaulted by a group of eight or nine people when he tried to leave his home at around 1pm on 24 October to greet two friends who had come to see his child. According to the RFA report, eyewitnesses claim that two local officials named Zhao Feng and Li Xian’gan led the assault. Chen Guangcheng’s cousin Chen Guangli told RFA that Li Xian’gan shouted during the beating : « Hit him hard ! Break his legs ! So he can include this in his lawsuit too. »
Chen Guangcheng, who is blind, reportedly fell to the ground five or six times during the attack. His family were eventually able to drag him inside, but he was left bleeding from the forehead and with pain around his left eye. Apparently, his fingers were so painful that he could not bend them. According to Chen Guangli, members of Chen Guangcheng’s family asked those guarding the house if he could go to hospital, but their request was denied.
Chen Guangcheng, a self-educated lawyer, has been detained at his home since 7 September. According to RFA, local villagers reported that Chen Guangcheng’s house is being guarded by a group of around 20 people according to a shift system.
Before his detention, Cheng Guangcheng had been assisting villagers to take legal action against the Linyi city authorities in Shandong, who they allege had been breaking the law by conducting a campaign of forced abortions and sterilizations of local women in pursuit of birth quotas. The case was due to be heard on 10 October, but was postponed. According to reports, several of the families involved in the case have withdrawn following threats and harassment by the authorities. Chen Guangli was briefly detained earlier in October along with another villager, after giving interviews about Chen Guangcheng’s situation to foreign reporters.
RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language :
expressing concern for Chen Guangcheng’s safety following reports that he was kicked and beaten on 24 October at the instigation of local officials ;
urging the authorities to guarantee that he will not be subjected to further torture or ill-treatment ;
calling on the authorities to launch a full, independent and impartial investigation into the alleged assault on Chen Guangcheng and urging the authorities to bring all those responsible to justice ;
calling on the authorities to immediately lift restrictions on Chen Guangcheng’s freedom of movement and give him access to any medical treatment he may require ;
urging the authorities to guarantee that Chen Guangcheng can carry out his legitimate activities in defence of human rights without being subjected to arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment, or other human rights violations.
APPEALS TO :
Prime Minister
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council
9 Xihuangcheng Genbeijie
Beijingshi 100032
People’s Republic of China
Fax : +86 10 65292345 (c/o Ministry of Communication)
Salutation : Your Excellency
Governor of the Shandong Provincial People’s Government
HAN Yuqun Shengzhang
Shandongsheng Renmin Zhengfu
1 Shengfuqianjie
Jinanshi
Shandongsheng
People’s Republic of China
Salutation : Dear Governor
[Please note that the Governor is now confirmed in post and is no longer ’acting Governor’ as previously stated]
COPIES TO :
Mayor of Linyi City
Email (via website) : http://www.linyi.gov.cn/en/contact.asp
Ambassade de la République Populaire de Chine
Avenue de Tervuren, 463
1160 Bruxelles
fax : 02/772 37 45 - 02/762 99 66 - 02/779 28 95
email : chinaemb.be mfa.gov.cn
.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 7 December 2005.
