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Zhu Jiuhu, a Beijing-based attorney, Chinese lawyer known for
his efforts for defending human rights , expressed his support for Tibet’s
genuine autonomy while defending his client Chen Daojun, a Chinese writer
convicted for inciting separatist activities, during a trial in Chengdu
on 5 November, reported Buxon News.
On November 5, during the defense
statement in the trial of Sichuan Province Chengdu City writer Chen
Daojun for the crime of “splitting the Motherland,” Beijing-based
attorney Zhu Jiuhu maintained not only that Chen Daojun had committed no
crime, but that the Dalai Lama did not advocate independence in the
pursuit of splitting the Motherland. It is understood that this is the
first time the Dalai Lama’s Tibet policy has been defended by a lawyer in
a Mainland court.
During his defense statement, Zhu Jiuhu said: “On March 28, the Dalai
Lama said in a written statement addressed to China’s leadership and the
international Han community that he does not advocate independence or
sovereignty for Tibet, but only meaningful regional autonomy.”
During his plea attorney Zhu cited the following details of the Dalai
Lama’s statement: “Here I would like to pledge to our Han compatriots
that I have no intention of sowing discord between the Han and Tibetan
peoples. On the contrary, I am strongly committed to promoting long-term
mutual benefit between our two peoples.”
“The Tibetan Plateau is the source of all of Asia’s major waterways, so
protecting its ecosystem is critical. We are also concerned about
protecting the core of Tibetan Buddhist culture, and how to preserve the
Tibetan language and the special characteristics of our people, etc. For
this reason, on behalf of all Tibetans we sincerely seek genuine,
meaningful regional autonomy. Tibetans and indeed all ethnic minorities
have this right, as clearly detailed in the PRC constitution.” From this
candid statement to the world’s people by the Dalai Lama, Chen Daojun
concluded that the Dalai Lama was sincere and based his faith in and
expressed support of the Tibetans’ actions based on this.
Attorney Zhu also cited the constitution and former Chinese leader Deng
Xiaoping’s own words to demonstrate that not only do the Dalai Lama’s
words not violate the constitution or advocate the splitting of the
Motherland, but that it is the Chinese government that has not honored
the 17 point agreement (Sino-Tibetan agreement, signed under duress on
May 23, 1951). Attorney Zhu stated that in 1980 Deng Xiaoping said: “All
ethnic minority regions should be permitted real regional national
autonomy.” This illustrates that the original 1951 agreement was not
honored. It also highlights that the Dalai Lama’s March 2008 appeal for
meaningful, genuine regional national autonomy is simply consistent with
Deng’s policy statement, the 17 point agreement and the Chinese
constitution.
Attorney Zhu also attacked the Chinese government’s demonization of the
Dalai Lama following the March 2008 incident. Zhu said: “After the March
incident, Chinese television and other media incessantly condemned the
event as a premeditated conspiracy by the ‘Dalai clique’ to achieve
independence. But Western leaders including Germany’s prime minister
openly stated that in all his extensive activities in the West, the Dalai
Lama has never advocated independence but simply called for autonomy.”
The question this raises is that, if the Dalai Lama did actively and in
advance conspire to incite violence to promote independence, why would
the Chinese government continue to negotiate with his representatives?
Attorney Zhu Jiuhu is well known for his human rights defense work. He
was born in 1966 in Gansu Province’s Jingyuan County. He graduated from
Beijing Normal University’s philosophy department in 1989, and in 2000
earned a PhD in law. In 1998 Zhu was licensed as a lawyer. After
finishing his graduate studies he began working with Mo Shaoping’s Law
Firm and became Mo’s right-hand man. In 2002 Zhu succeeded in litigating
the licensing of Hunan Province’s Shaoyang teachers, and in 2003 gained
fame in the rural entrepreneur Sun Dawu’s case. In 2005, he faced illegal
imprisonment for 5 years for assisting Gao Zhisheng during a case on oil
field in northern Shaanxi province in helping private investors in Shaanxi seek
compensation from the government. The investors claimed the government
took over their oilfields far less compensation than they deserved. Zhu was
illegally imprisoned for five months for his efforts in May 2005. Authorities in Shaanxi released lawyer
Zhu Jiuhu in octobre 2005
Chinese dissident writer Zhao
Dagong praised Zhu’s willingness to openly advocate the Dalai Lama’s
positions in a courtroom as an act of extreme courage.
Earlier, Chinese intellectuals and lawyers have expressed similar views
supporting genuine autonomy for Tibet and asked the Chinese government to
resolve the issue of Tibet through meaningful dialogue.
Attorney Zhu Jiuhu is well
known for his human rights defense work.
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