PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 17/112/2008

5 December 2008

UA 332/08 Fear of torture or other ill-treatment/Prisoner of conscience

CHINA Ji Sizun (m) aged 59

Prisoner of conscience Ji Sizun, from Fujian Province, was detained on 11 August in Beijing when he went to a police station to hand in an application to hold a demonstration in one of the designated protest zones for the Beijing Olympics. Amnesty International believes he has been detained in violation of his rights to freedom of expression and assembly and that he is at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Ji Sizun is being held on suspicion of “forging an official seal”, and could face trial and sentencing at anytime. He is currently held at Fuzhou No.2 Detention Centre. His family or his friends have not been allowed to meet with him but he has met twice with a lawyer.

On 9 August, Ji Sizun, accompanied by foreign journalists, applied for the first time at the Deshengmenwai Public Security Bureau for permission to hold a demonstration. The officials refused to process his application and asked him to come back later. On 11 August, Ji Sizun returned to the Public Security Bureau where, according to eye witnesses, the police summoned him to an unmarked police vehicle and drove off. No one knew of Ji Sizun’s whereabouts until the end of September when friends learned that he was held at the Fuzhou No.2 Detention Centre. Ji Sizun has been communicating with his friends by sending them postcards, but it seems that he has not received the letters his friends have sent him in response.

Ji Sizun was planning to protest against corruption and to call for greater participation of the Chinese people in the political processes. A picture of Ji Sizun is available online at: http://www.canyu.org/n3498c6.aspx.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Human rights activists in China who attempt to report on human rights violations, challenge policies which are deemed politically sensitive, or try to rally others to their cause, face serious risk of abuse. Many are charged and imprisoned as prisoners of conscience after politically motivated trials, while growing numbers are being detained as prisoners in their own homes by the police conducting intrusive surveillance and standing guard outside.

On 23 July, the Chinese authorities announced the set up of Olympic protest zones in three Beijing parks where individuals would express their grievances. However, all applications required advance permission from the police. According to reports, some individuals who planned to apply for permission were verbally told that their applications would not be successful and were subsequently placed under surveillance or detention. There were also reports of potential protestors being prevented from travelling to Beijing to protest or being escorted back to their homes. The case of two elderly women, Wu Dianyuan, 79, and Wang Xiuying, 77, who had applied for a permission to hold a protest in one of the zones and were sentenced to Re-education through Labour was widely reported in the international media. Subsequently, their terms of Re-education through Labour were revoked.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Mandarin or your own language:

- calling on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release prisoner of conscience, Ji Sizun, who was detained solely for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and assembly;

- urging the authorities to guarantee that he is not tortured or ill-treated while he remains in custody;

- urging the authorities to ensure Ji Sizun has access to his family and lawyer of his choice and any necessary medical treatment.

APPEALS TO:

Chief Procurator of the Fujian Provincial People's Procuratorate

NI Yingda Jianchazhang

Fujiansheng Renmin Jianchayuan

253 Hualinlu

Fuzhoushi 350003

Fujiansheng

People's Republic of China

Fax: +86 591 87762163

Salutation: Dear Procurator

Director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Public Security

BAO Shaokun Tingzhang

Fujiansheng Gong'anting

12 Hualinlu

Fuzhoushi 350003

Fujiansheng

People's Republic of China

Fax: +86 591 87093516

Salutation: Dear Director

Director of Fuzhou No. 2 Detention Center

Fuzhou di er kanshousuo

Xiadongzirancun, Zhanglancun

Chengmenzhen, Cangshanqu

Fuzhou 350011

Fujiansheng

People’s Republic of China

Salutation: Dear Director

Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China

WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli

The State Council General Office

2 Fuyoujie

Xichengqu

Beijingshi 100017

People's Republic of China

Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

Governor of the Fujian Provincial People's Government

HUANG Xiaojing Shengzhang

Fujiansheng Renmin Zhengfu

76 Hualinlu

Fuzhoushi 350003

Fujiansheng

People's Republic of China

Fax: +86 591 87855770

Salutation: Dear Governor

and to diplomatic representatives of CHINA accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 16 January 2009.