10 mayo 2017
Xie Yang's release on bail does not represent a break in China's relentless campaign of repression against human rights lawyers., Amnesty International said today.
Xie Yang was tried at the Changsha City Intermediate People's Court, in southern China, he 8 of May, for “incitement to subversion of state power” and “contempt of court”, and it seems that he has been released on bail despite the fact that the sentence has not yet been handed down.
“This unusual sequence of events in no way mitigates the fears of torture in this case.”, Patrick Poon has pointed out, Amnesty International China researcher. “Although it is a relief that Xie Yang is no longer in custody.”, The truth is that he should never have been arrested.”
“It is likely that, while out on bail, be subject to constant surveillance and severe restrictions on their freedom of movement, as has been seen in other similar cases», added Patrick Poon. “These types of tactics seem to be the authorities' way of proceeding against those who defend human rights.”
Just 20 minutes before the trial began, The court announced that it would be broadcast on the Chinese social network Weibo.
In the course of it, Xie Yang said he had not been tortured, which contradicted what he had told his lawyers in January, when he told them about the prolonged torture he had suffered in custody, including long interrogations, beatings, water denial and sleep deprivation.
Xie Yang is among the at least 250 legal professionals and activists against whom the unprecedented campaign of repression initiated by the Chinese government in 2015.
"Los cargos contra él son infundados. The authorities know it, and that is why they have resorted to torture and other forms of coercion against him and his family." Patrick Poon
Tortured
After making public his lawyers, in January 2017, Xie Yang's torture allegations, The authorities have not agreed to any of the requests they have submitted to meet with him. In March of 2017 another human rights lawyer was seen detained, Jiang Tianyong, “confessing” in mainland media to have fabricated evidence of Xie Yang's torture.
Xie Yang's family has also been threatened to force him to "confess."” and make incriminating statements against other human rights defenders.
Xie Yang was represented at the trial by public defenders, because the authorities removed from the case those whom his family had sought for him.
The authorities have repeatedly warned Chen Jiangang, one of Xie Yang's original defense lawyers, to stop talking about his case with the international media and they have opened an investigation that questions his right to practice law. He 3 of May, Police took Chen Jiangang and his family into custody, and activist Zhang Baocheng and his wife, Liu Juefan, when they were traveling in Yunnan. After being released, Chen had to return to Beijing in his vehicle, escorted by public security services agents, while his wife and two young children were allowed to return by plane.
“The charges against Xie Yang are unfounded.”. The authorities know it, and that is why they have resorted to torture and other forms of coercion against him and his family.”, Patrick Poon has pointed out.
Incessant repression
The arrest of lawyer Wang Yu and her family on 9 July 2015 marked the beginning of an unprecedented campaign of repression by the government against human rights lawyers and other activists. During the next two weeks, public security service agents interrogated or detained almost 250 legal professionals and activists and searched the offices and homes of many of them.
In addition to Xie Yang, there are five other people who have been found guilty of “subversion of state power.”. In August 2016 Activists Zhai Yanmin and Gou Hongguo were given suspended prison sentences, alias Ge Ping. Activist Hu Shigen and lawyer Zhou Shifeng were sentenced to seven and a half and seven years in prison, respectively. Lawyer Li Heping was tried in Tianjin on 25 April, and the 28 of the same month he was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for four. After the sentence was handed down, there was no news of his whereabouts until 9 of May, when he returned home; There are images of him where he looks thinner and with all his gray hair..
There are three other people detained, waiting for the date of his trial or sentencing to be set. Human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang's trial date has not yet been set. Activists Yin Xu'an and Wang Fang are still awaiting sentencing after appearing in court in September last year and February this year., respectively.
