THE CASE OF DR. WANG BINGZHANG: In June 2002, Dr. Wang Bingzhang, a leading figure in the overseas China democracy movement, was kidnapped in Vietnam and held incommunicado in China for 5 months. Then charged with "espionage" and "terrorism", he was tried in a half-day trial and sentenced to life in prison. His appeal was denied. He is currently in solitary confinement, and in poor health, in Shaoguan Prison in Guangdong Province.

Worldrights is spearheading international advocacy on his behalf, appealing to the United Nations and world governments to call for his release. Highlights: In May 2003, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a decision finding China in violation of international human rights standards with regard to Dr. Wang's detention and trial. In March 2004, the US House Committee on International Relations unanimously passed a resolution calling for Dr. Wang's release.On May 6, 2004, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Res. 326 399 to 0. Click Here for complete text.

THE CASE OF PENG MING: Peng Ming, a veteran Chinese democracy advocate and UN refugee, was arrested in Myanmar on May 22, 2004. He was charged with possession of counterfeit RMB, and subsequently returned to China on May 28, 2004. That act of repatriation by the Government of Myanmar was illegal and in contravention of international law. Under the internationally recognized principle of non-refoulement, which has acquired the status of jus cogens- a preemptory norm of international law from which no derogation by any state is permitted -- any individual designated a U.N. refugee must be protected from return by a “holding state” to a country where he has a well-founded fear of persecution due to his religious or political beliefs. Worldrights is representing Peng's family in order to help secure his release from detention in China, where he has been charged with “attempt of kidnapping.”

Letter to Hubei Province Police Department Domestic Security Group

For archives on both of these cases, click on “China Link Page”