 |
| Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012 |
We start with an Urgent Action call from Amnesty International on behalf of an Chinese activist at risk of torture.
URGENT ACTION
ACTIVIST DETAINED, RISKS TORTURE
Activist
Liu Yuandong, a businessman, was detained on 23 February in Guangzhou,
China after he took part in
a protest against North
Korea’s nuclear tests. He is at risk of
torture and other ill-treatment.
Liu Yuandong,
a 35-year-old businessman, protested with several other people against North Korea’s nuclear tests on 23 February in
the southern city of Guangzhou.
They were all detained, and given administrative detention orders ranging from seven
to 15 days for violating the Law on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations.
All but Liu Yuandong have since been released, and have told the media they
were deprived of sleep in custody.
The police told his wife that they were
holding him on the grounds that he had "withdrawn the contributed capital
after the incorporation of the company" and that they were in the process
of issuing a formal arrest notification. His wife, however, has not received
any formal arrest notice. Liu Yuandong is detained in Guangzhou city's Tianhe district detention
centre.
Liu Yuandong has taken an active part in a number of social movements or
protests in China.
He was briefly detained after he took part in a solidarity action for the people
of the nearby village
of Wukan who were
protesting against local corruption and land grabs. More
than 500 people across China
signed a petition in March, within three days, calling for him to be released.
Please write immediately in English or your
own language:
n
Calling on the authorities to give Liu Yuandong immediate
access to his family, legal representation of his choosing and any medical attention
he may require;
n
Calling on them to release Liu Yuandong immediately
and unconditionally;
n
Calling on them to ensure that Liu Yuandong is not tortured
or otherwise ill-treated.
PLEASE SEND
APPEALS BEFORE 31 MAY 2013 TO:
Director,
Tianhe District People’s Procuratorate
Liu Zhimin Jianchazhang
Guangzhoushi Tianhequ
Remin Jianchayuan, 19 Longkou West Road
Tianhequ, Guangzhoushi
510630
People’s Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Director
Director,
Tianhe District Public Security Sub-branch
Jin Wei Juzhang
Guangzhoushi Tianhequ
Gong'anfenju, 613 Shougoulinglu, Tianhequ,
Guangzhoushi 510640,
People’s Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Director
And copies to:
Premier
Li Keqiang Guojia Zongli
The State Council General
Office
2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017 People’s Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 6596 1109
Email: Notice@scio.gov.cn
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your
country.
URGENT
ACTION
ACTIVIST DETAINED, RISKS TORTURE
Additional Information
Activist and lawyers in China believe
that the police decision to investigate Liu Yuandong’s business activities is
politically motivated. The police have told his wife that he is suspected of
having violated the Criminal Law, Article 159: "Any sponsor or shareholder
of a company who, in violation of the provisions of the Company Law, makes a
false capital contribution by failing to pay the promised cash or tangible
assets or to transfer property rights, or surreptitiously withdraws the
contributed capital after the incorporation of the company shall, if the amount
involved is huge, and the consequences are serious, or if there are other
serious circumstances, be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than
five years or criminal detention and shall also, or shall only, be fined not
less than two percent but not more than 10 percent of the false capital
contribution or of the amount of the capital contribution surreptitiously
withdrawn."
Name: Liu Yuandong
Gender m/f: m
UA: 102/13 Index: ASA
17/012/2013 Issue Date: 19 April 2013
ROMA IN POLAND: FORCED EVICTIONS.
LABOR ISSUES:
