Yang Chunlin

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Yang Chunlin (Chinese: 杨春林; Pinyin : Yáng Chūnlín, * 1954 ) is a human rights activist in Heilongjiang , China . Yang has published numerous articles on human rights and land rights. In 2007 he helped organize a petition entitled "We want human rights, not the Olympics". The petition is said to have collected over ten thousand signatures, which Yang campaigned for. He reportedly visited houses, apartments and villages and walked up to 50 kilometers a day in Heilongjiang's cold winter weather.

Life and Imprisonment

Yang Chunlin participated in the organization of a petition titled “We want human rights, not the Olympic Games” in 2007 and is said to have collected more than 10,000 signatures for it. Yang was detained four times for participating in a hunger strike organized by Beijing lawyer Gao Zhisheng in 2006. Yang volunteered to help farmers who were fighting the expropriation of their land in Fujin, Heilongjiang Province.

Despite China's official assurances that the 2008 Olympic Games would strengthen human rights development in the country, the Chinese government has denied or restricted the basic rights of its citizens , including freedom of expression , assembly and religious freedom .

Yang was arrested in July 2007 and charged with "inciting subversion of state power." His trial began in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, in February 2008. Yang was found guilty of "inciting subversion of state authority" on March 24, 2008, and sentenced to five years in prison, and was deprived of his political rights for two years. Another activist involved in collecting signatures on the petition was Yuan Xianchen, who was charged on similar charges and sentenced to four years in prison.

Yang was released from prison on July 6, 2012.

Media reports

On July 6, 2007, according to Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Epoch Times, and Amnesty International , land rights activist Yang Chunlin was arrested by public security officers in Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province.

Human Rights in China reported that Yang was brought into the courtroom in shackles and leg irons, and that his head was said to be covered with a black hood. Throughout the process, Yang told the court that he was innocent, but was sentenced. During and after the hearing at which he was sentenced, Yang was beaten with an electric baton at least twice. After being sentenced, Yang said that he would continue to fight for democracy in China because "democracy is the only way to end the persecution of the speech," Yang said.

When Yang was retried on September 19, 2008, the Jiamusi City People's Court upheld the original verdict against Yang. According to those present, the process should have lasted less than 30 minutes. Yang was transferred to Xianglan Prison on September 25th, 2008, where he remained for the remainder of his sentence.

The Congressional - Executive Commission On China described Yang as a political prisoner.

Family visit

In 2010, Yang Chunlin's family visited him in prison. Family members noticed that his legs and face were swollen with fluid ( anasarca ), and he looked tired. When a member of his family complained about being beaten in the court, a court official apparently admitted that the judicial authorities allowed the beating. This is said to have been the punishment for challenging the state power. Yang told his family that his heartbeat was irregular and that he had heart problems and was often unwell. He said he had problems because the prison authorities wouldn't give him an opportunity to do any physical exercise, and he wasn't even allowed to go outside. Yang was forced to do forced labor and was not allowed to rest except when lying down to sleep or during short meals. Yang said he told the prison authorities that he was not feeling well, but they did not allow medical attention.

See also

Web link

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b HRW World Report 2008: Events in China in 200 7, Human Rights Watch, 2008, accessed August 29, 2017
  2. ↑ China arrests anti-Olympics activist , The Associated Press (US), September 3, 2007, accessed August 29, 2017
  3. ↑ a b c d e Land Rights Activist Yang Chunlin Released , Human Rights in China, July 6, 2012, accessed August 29, 2017
  4. ^ Lindsay Beck, China foreign minister defends rights record , Reuters, February 28, 2008, accessed August 29, 2017
  5. ↑ Fang Yuan & Yan Xiu, China tries land activist who opposed Olympics , Radio Free Asia, February 19, 2008, accessed August 29, 2017
  6. ↑ Mure Dickie, Beijing dismisses rights fears ( March 3, 2008 memento in the Internet Archive ), Financial Times, February 28, 2008, accessed August 29, 2017
  7. ↑ China to increase torch security after protest ( March 29, 2008 memento in the Internet Archive ), The Associated Press, March 24, 2008, accessed August 29, 2017
  8. ^ A b Political and Religious Prisoners , Dui Hua Foundation, 2009, accessed August 29, 2017
  9. ↑ Human rights trail , Radio Free Asia, March 24, 2008, (Cantonese) accessed August 29, 2017
  10. ↑ Maureen Fan, Protestors disrupt lighting of torch in ancient Olympia , The Washington Post, March 25, 2008, accessed August 29, 2017
  11. ↑ Fang Yuan, Yang Chunlin's second trial mere formality; judge only spoke to uphold first sentence , Radio Free Asia, September 19, 2008, (Mandarin). Retrieved August 29, 2017
  12. ↑ Fang Hua, Heilongjiang prison does not allow Yang Chunlin's family to visit him; lawyer says this is illegal , Radio Free Asia, September 30, 2008, accessed August 29, 2017
  13. ↑ Political Prisoner Database: Yang Chunlin ( Memento December 5, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 2010, accessed on August 29, 2017
  14. ↑ a b Peoples Republic of China The Olympics countdown – broken promises ( Memento from December 24, 2008 in the Internet Archive ), Amnesty International USA, 2008, accessed on August 29, 2017
personal data
SURNAME Yang, Chunlin
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Chinese human rights activist and dissident
DATE OF BIRTH 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH China