Chinese Human Rights Defenders -

Week in Review

·         Chongqing courts heard two important appeals cases this week, though both concluded without verdicts.  On October 28, the Fuling District Number Three Intermediate Court heard an administrative lawsuit filed by activist Chen Yang (陈杨), a rare challenge to the use of RTL to detain dissidents; however, Chen was not allowed to attend the hearing.  Earlier in the week, on October 26, Chongqing’s Qijiang Court heard the appeal of Pan-Blue Alliance of Chinese Nationalists member Zhang Qi (张起), currently serving a four-year prison term for “inciting subversion of state power” after posting a series of critical articles online.

·         As Shanghai authorities tighten up control of “social order” ahead of next May’s World Trade Expo, police from the Maqiao Town, Minhang District Public Security Bureau (PSB) detained petitioner-turned-activist Shen Peilan (沈佩兰) for ten days on Oct. 29.  One day earlier, Shen was prevented from meeting with former lawyer Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠) at his home in Shanghai, and Shen was beaten by police officers responsible for keeping Zheng under house arrest.

·         In a case demonstrating the difficulties faced by citizens seeking to challenge abuse by police and other law enforcement agencies without an independent legal system, Shandong resident Wang Jinsheng (王进生) continues to try to seek justice for his brother, Wang Jinyong (王进勇).  Wang Jinyong was tortured by a Linyi City prosecutor and convicted on the basis of a confession extracted by this torture; despite medical records verifying the abuse, local officials have refused to investigate Wang Jinsheng’s claims or review his brother’s conviction.

…… more details from Chinese Human Rights Defenders