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China: Accountability for victims of the 1989
pro-democracy demonstrations
Press release, 02/06/2003
As the 14th anniversary of the crackdown on the 1989
pro-democracy demonstrations approaches, Amnesty
International again calls on the Chinese authorities
to account for all those killed and injured in the
1989 crackdown and to offer compensation to the
families.
"Ignoring victims of human rights violations,
repressing and imprisoning their messengers, and
continuing impunity for violators brings no resolution,
discredits the government and potentially exacerbates
tensions for the future," Amnesty International said.
An official government spokesperson has indicated that
the Chinese authorities' "conclusion will remain
unchanged... Stability has always remained the top
priority for China." Amnesty International believes
that long-term stability is best achieved by
protecting human rights and addressing legitimate
grievances.
Those who lost their lives or were imprisoned in 1989
were calling for transparent and accountable
government and an end to corruption -- core building
blocks for genuine stability and development. The new
Chinese leadership has recently given prominence to
these watchwords with its efforts to combat the spread
of SARs.
"Transparency and accountability must extend beyond
the immediate needs of public health to other areas of
government policy," Amnesty International said.
Increasingly, official spokespersons have reiterated
that "China is a country ruled by law". The majority
of 1989 protestors were peacefully exercising basic
human rights enshrined in China's constitution, the
country's fundamental law, which president Hu Jintao
has emphasized is of "supreme authority" and must be "carried
out to the letter".
Amnesty International continues to support the
Tiananmen Mothers, a group of victims and families of
those killed in the crackdown, in their long struggle
to document cases, and to seek redress and
compensation. This year, the Tiananmen Mothers
revealed the names of 12 more protestors who "disappeared"
during the 1989 crackdown and remain unaccounted for.
Internet entrepreneur Huang Qi's website assisted in
the search for such missing persons, and included a
discussion forum for voicing grievances over related
official abuses of power. He was arrested on 3 June
2000. On 9 May 2003, his sentence of 5 years
imprisonment for "inciting subversion of state power"
was announced following trial proceedings which failed
to meet China's own criminal procedures or
international fair trial standards.
Amnesty International reiterates its appeal to the
Chinese authorities to release all prisoners still
held in connection with the 1989 pro-democracy
protests. The organization has records of 82 people
that it believes are still imprisoned following swift
and unfair trials. Cases continue to come to light,
indicating that the true figure is likely much higher.
Background
As thousands worldwide prepare to commemorate the
events of 1989 and call for justice for the victims,
every year more people who attempt to do the same in
China are detained. Zhao Changqing was detained in
November 2002 following his involvement in an open
petition addressed to the 16th Party Congress calling
for a reassessment of the 1989 democratic movement and
other reforms. He has now been charged with "inciting
subversion of state power". Wang Jinbo was sentenced
in December 2002 to four year's imprisonment for the
same offence. He had posted articles on the Internet
including an appeal to the government to overturn its
"counter-revolutionary" verdict of the 1989 protests.
Fellow prisoners have reportedly subjected him to
repeated beatings. Prison authorities have failed to
act against the perpetrators or ensure his safety and
have not permitted visits by his family. Meanwhile,
Wang Wanxing enters his eleventh year of incarceration
at Ankang Psychiatric Hospital in Beijing following
his 1992 attempt to unfurl a banner in Tiananmen
Square commemorating the demonstrations.
http://news.amnesty.org
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