Letter from Professor Richard Zeckhauser to U.S. Vice President Dick CheneyRichard Zeckhauser April 3, 2003
The Honorable Dick Cheney Dear Mr. Vice President: I understand that you are planning to visit the People's Republic of China this spring. I am writing to ask for your assistance in the case of Dr. Yang Jianli, who was detained Friday, April 26, 2002, in Kunming, China. Dr. Yang was my doctoral student, and we were research collaborators until he was detained. He holds doctoral degrees from Harvard (Public Policy) and the University of California, Berkeley (Mathematics). Dr. Yang is a brilliant and capable citizen whose primary goal in life is to contribute to China's future. He is also deeply grateful to the United States for his education, and for the freedoms it offers. He would be an effective advocate for Chinese-American friendship, and for China to embrace the best of American ideals of democracy. Over the last eleven months, Dr. Yang has been held incommunicado, unable to communicate with either his family members or an attorney. The Chinese government has been entirely unresponsive to some 15 U.S. Senators and 40 U.S. Representatives who have written to them to express deep concern about his ongoing imprisonment. Dr. Yang's wife and children are American citizens residing in Massachusetts. His detention is a cause of great pain and anguish to his family, and to his many friends, including many Americans. I am appealing for you to take a stand on behalf of Dr. Yang. Such an action would likely put great pressure on the Chinese government and could facilitate his speedy release. I am greatly appreciative of any assistance you can provide in this matter.
Sincerely yours,
Richard Zeckhauser
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