Free Yang Jianli!Jared Genser From: Jared Genser [mailto:jared_genser@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 5:01 PM To: Freedom-Now@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Freedom-Now] Yang Jianli Dear Supporter of Freedom Now, Hello! I am writing to update you about one of our current cases and to ask for your help! Freedom Now is currently representing Yang Jianli. Jianli, a Tiananmen Square activist in 1989, came to the United States, earned two Ph.D.s, and then founded the Foundation for China in the 21st Century. Given his political activism, he was blacklisted by the Chinese who also refused to renew his passport. Jianli returned to China this past April on a friend＊s passport to view labor unrest in the northeastern part of China. He was detained when trying to board an internal flight. Although Freedom Now typically would not take up an illegal entry case, since his initial detention, Jianli has been held incommunicado by the Chinese in violation of their own and international law. His wife and children as well as his extended family have been denied access to Jianli and are justifiably concerned for his health and safety while he languishes month after month in prison. He is being denied due process because he has been an outspoken critic of the Chinese regime.
Since Jianli＊s detention on April 26th, 2002, a prominent group of
individuals have expressed deep concern to Chinese officials. These
individuals include: This past Monday, Freedom Now submitted a formal petition to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights＊ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention describing the violations of PRC and international law in the case (attached). Also on Monday, Congressman Henry Hyde raised the case directly to President Jiang in Beijing. We are expecting Jianli＊s case to be raised by a U.S. delegation participating in a human rights exchange with the Chinese next week. Given the attention currently on Jianli＊s detention, now is the best time for you to do something to help. We are asking you to submit the following letter (or something else you are comfortable with) to Chinese Ambassador to the United States Yang Jiechi. Your letter, along with many others coming from across the country, will keep the pressure on the Chinese and will help ensure Jianli＊s case is not forgotten. Feel free, as well, to forward on these materials to anyone else you think would be willing to help. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can also get further information on Jianli＊s web site: www.chinaeweekly.com. Thanks so much for your help. With warm regards,
Jared Genser --- December 12, 2002
The Honorable Yang Jiechi Dear Mr. Ambassador: I am writing to ask for your assistance in the case of Dr. Yang Jianli, who was detained on Friday, April 26, 2002, in Kunming, China. As you know, Dr. Yang is a prominent advocate for democracy and human rights in China who has testified numerous times on Capitol Hill. Over the last seven months, in violation of both PRC and international law, none of Dr. Yang's family members has been allowed to meet with him or has received written notification of his arrest and place of confinement. These factors have prevented Dr. Yang's family from obtaining legal counsel for him. Dr. Yang's wife and children are American citizens residing in Massachusetts. His detention is a cause of growing pain and anguish to his family. We urge your government to assure that Dr. Yang is given a prompt and fair trial, permitted to meet with his wife and U.S. government representatives, and allowed to return to the United States to rejoin his family as soon as possible. This positive humanitarian gesture would be welcomed by all of us in the United States who care about strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and China. Thank you for considering my request, and for taking the time to address this important matter. With warm regards, -------------------------- |