Message from Dr. Yang's American lawyer Jared GenserJared Genser June 5, 2004 Dear Friends, As you know, there has been significant news coverage of the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, including prominent mention of Yang Jianli's case. In addition, Congressman Christopher Cox (R-CA) and Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)introduced H.Res. 655 which commemorated the Tiananmen Square massacre and called for the release of all prisoners of conscience including Yang Jianli. The resolution passed yesterday on vote of 400-1. Thanks to all of you, as always, for all of your help and support. It means the world to Christina, Aaron, Anita, the rest of Yang Jianli's family, and myself. We look forward to working with you over the coming months to keep the pressure on the PRC to secure an early release for Yang Jianli. Best,
Jared Genser --
Tiananmen Square Massacre Commemorated
June 3, 2004
LOLITA C. BALDOR WASHINGTON - Fifteen years ago, Tong Yi watched in terror as tanks rolled toward China's Tiananmen Square and government soldiers gunned down two students who were just a few feet from her. On Thursday, she joined other exiled leaders of the student protest in calling for the United States and other Western countries to pressure the Chinese government on human rights violations and democracy. "We believed we were patriots," Tong, now a New York lawyer, said at a news conference. "We never anticipated they would roll over us in tanks." They are older now, working as accountants, lawyers, journalists and Internet executives. But as the former student leaders gathered to mark the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre that left hundreds or even thousands dead, they pledged to reorganize and force change in their homeland. For Tong that means educating people about the struggle for democracy in China. Tong said she probably will not return soon to China. Liu Junguo is determined to go back. Liu has staged a hunger strike since Tuesday morning in front of the Chinese Embassy. He wants to commemorate the anniversary and draw attention to political prisoners in China. Liu, who planned to end the fast on Friday, said he and others should return to China even if it means re-entering the country secretly. "We should not just sit and wait for change. We've been waiting for 15 years and it hasn't happened," he said. "We will probably change our approach." From within China, he said, activists could better organize the Chinese people. But he said it's a risk. His close friend, Boston scholar Yang Jianli, has been detained for more than two years in China after entering the country illegally. And he was recently sentenced to five years in prison on charges of spying. Yang's case was noted by the former students as they read a statement calling for the Chinese government to release political prisoners. But they said it is hard to have an impact when Western countries promote trade and other relationships with China. "We have become an inconvenience for world leaders and multinational companies," said Wuer Kaixi, who was on the Chinese government's most wanted list after organizing the student uprising. "The American government struck a deal with the Chinese government. It puts us in a very awkward position." But, he said it is not too late. "Students rose up in 1989," he said. "They will do so again." -- Channel NewsAsia June 2, 2004 Wednesday SECTION: ASIA PACIFIC LENGTH: 558 words HEADLINE: Resolution introduced in US Congress slamming China for Tiananmen crackdown
BODY: "On a bipartisan basis, Congress stands united in support of freedom for the people of China," declared Representative Christopher Cox, a senior legislator from President George W. Bush's Republican party, who introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi co-sponsored the bill, which is to be voted on either Wednesday or Thursday. "Fifteen years ago, Tiananmen Square marked not only a tragedy, but a decisive turning point in the fight for freedom," said Cox. He said government troops, by brutally supressing the June 4, 1989, revolt "won the battle against the Chinese people that day, but they will surely lose the war to imprison the human spirit -- because we will never forget. "The day will soon come when all of the Chinese people will have the right to speak and debate freely. The hope symbolized by the Goddess of Democracy will ultimately triumph," Cox said. Hundreds, if not thousands, of peaceful protesters were mown down by tanks and soldiers in central Beijing 15 years ago, as the People's Liberation Army assaulted the heart of the capital to end six weeks of unprecedented democracy protests. China has defended the crackdown as necessary for economic growth and the nation's emergence on the world stage. The House resolution condemned "the ongoing and egregious human rights abuses" in China. It urged the communist government to order an independent inquiry into the reported killing, torture, and imprisonment of democracy activists in Tiananmen Square with the goal of bringing to justice those responsible for the abuses. The resolution also urged Beijing to release those who remain jailed for their participation in the peaceful protests and provide compensation to families of those killed in the ensuing crackdown. Those exiled on account of their activities in 1989 should be allowed to return and live in freedom in China, it said. The resolution singled out and sought the release of Yang Jianli, an organizer of the Tiananmen Square protests sentenced to five years imprisonment May 13 on charges of spying for Taiwan and illegal entry. The US-based Yang was detained April 26, 2002, when he traveled to China on a friend's passport in an attempt to observe ongoing labor unrest. US Vice President Dick Cheney raised his case during an April visit and the UN Human Rights Commission cited a lack of due process in his arrest and trial. Yang's 76-year-old mother, Yang Jiangue, joined several US-based student leaders of the Tiananmen Square protests in a public hunger strike in front of the Chinese embassy Tuesday to press Beijing to release all political prisoners in China. The elder Yang was on a 24-hour fast while the others are on a four-day hunger strike. "Fifteen years after Tiananmen, the new leaders of China have failed to deliver on expectations that they are going to be open and show respect for human rights," said Jared Genser, Yang's lawyer in the United States. Yang's wife, Christina Fu, will lead a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese embassy Thursday. -- June 2, 2004, Wednesday, BC cycle The Associated Press State & Local Wire
Copyright 2004 Associated Press SECTION: Washington Dateline LENGTH: 369 words HEADLINE: Jailed Democracy activist will not appeal China prison sentence BYLINE: By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY: Yang Jianli, 40, was sentenced by a Chinese court May 13, for allegedly entering China illegally and spying for rival Taiwan. Yang, a Chinese citizen with permanent U.S. residency, denied the charges. And in a two-page letter released this week, he said his more than two-year imprisonment in China, the trial and the sentence have repeatedly violated his human rights and broken the law. "In my view, the question of whether or not to appeal doesn't exist to me," said Yang, in a letter written in Chinese and translated by his wife's American lawyers. "This does not imply that I obey the illegal conviction. I simply refuse to be put on show any longer with the so called 'People's Court'." Initially, Yang's wife, Christina Fu, said her husband would appeal his conviction. But Yang declined. He said that he had not been allowed to communicate privately with his Chinese lawyer, that he had been detained illegally, and that the deadline for issuing a verdict in his case expired last December. Yang was detained in April 2002 while boarding an airline flight in the southwestern city of Kunming with a fake identity card. He was in China meeting with dissidents and protesting laid-off workers. He was using a fake identity, his family said, because he was barred from entering China after helping pro-democracy activists in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The Chinese government contended he was spying for Taiwan. Student leaders from the bloody 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown by the Chinese military are commemorating the 15th anniversary of the protests this week, and are staging a hunger strike in Washington to draw attention to Yang's situation. According to Fu's lawyer, Jared Genser, Yang will be eligible for parole after he has served half of his five-year sentence. Since he was given credit for the time already served, that would be Oct. 26. Members of Congress and Bush administration officials have repeatedly called for his release and have talked with Chinese leaders about the case.
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