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Reliable
sources are testifying about the refusal of the Chinese authorities to renew
the license of Mr. Li Jianqiang’s, a lawyer committed in the defence
of dissidents in the PRC.
According to the information
received, the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Judicial Affairs rejected Mr. Li
Jianqiang’s application for renewing his license in June 2007, the month for
the annual renewal of lawyers’ licenses in China. The Shandong authorities
did not provide any explanation, oral or written, for this decision.
According to Mr. Li, this lack of written decision makes it difficult for him
to appeal.
The Observatory expresses its
concern regarding this decision, which seems to merely sanction Mr. Li’s
activities in favour of dissident voices in China. Mr. Li has indeed
represented several writers, journalists, and organisers of opposition
parties in court in recent years, including the writer Yang Tianshui, poet Li
Hong, activist and artist Yan Zhengxue (See Observatory Annual Report 2006),
and dissident Chi Jianwei.
The Observatory further expresses
its concern over the determination of the Chinese authorities to obstruct the
work of human rights defenders. The Observatory wishes to recall that
according to Article 11 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, “everyone
has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful
exercise of his or her occupation or profession”.
The Observatory wishes to recall
that the National People’s Congress amended the Chinese Constitution in 2004 to
include that “the State respects and safeguards human rights” and that in
April 2006, the PRC submitted a document in order to support its candidacy to
the Human Rights Council’s first election, in which it
affirmed that the amendment to the Constitution was aiming at “defining the
position of human rights in the overall national development strategy. The
Observatory further wishes to point out that as a member of the Human Rights
Council, the PRC “shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and
protection of human rights”.
ACTIONS REQUIRED:
Please write to the Chinese
authorities urging them to:
- Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and
psychological integrity of Mr. Li Jianqiang;
- Ensure that the decision of the Shandong Provincial Bureau
of Judicial Affairs to reject Mr. Li Jianqiang’s application be revised
or at least a formal communication be given so that he can appeal this
decision;
- Guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to Mr. Li
Jianqiang, as a victim of this abuse;
- Put an end to any kind of act of harassment and threats
against all human rights defenders in the country;
- Conform with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human
Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations
on December 9, 1998, especially its Article 1, which states that
“everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to
promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights
and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, its
above-mentioned Article 11 and its Article 12.2, which states that “the
State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the
competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with
others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure
adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a
consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to
in the present Declaration”;
- Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights
standards and international instruments ratified by the People’s
Republic of China.
ADDRESSES:
- President Hu Jintao, People’s Republic of China, c/o
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; 2300 Connecticut Ave., NW,
Washington, D.C., 20008, USA, Fax: +01 202 588-0032;
- Minister of Justice of the People’s Republic of China
(Buzhang Sifabu), Wu Aiying, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu,
Beijingshi 100020, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6529 2345
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of
China (Buzhang Waijiaobu), Li Zhaoxing, 2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie,
Beijingshi 100701, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6588 2594,
Email: ipc@fmprc.gov.cn;
- Ambassador Sha Zukang, Permanent Mission of the People’s
Republic of China, Chemin de Surville 11, Case postale 85, 1213
Petit-Lancy 2, Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7937014, E-mail: mission.china@ties.itu.int;
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brussels,
Avenue de Tervuren, 463 1160 Auderghem, Belgium, Tel: + 32 2 663 30 10 /
+ 32 2 663 30 17 / +32 2 771 14 97 / +32 2 779 43 33; Fax: +32 2 762 99
66 / +32 2 779 28 95; Email: chinaemb_be@mfa.gov.cn.
Please also write to the
diplomatic representations of the People’s Republic of China in your
respective countries.
TAKE ACTION NOW !
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