Hujia&jinyan’s spirit

Beijing based blogger Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕), wife of imprisoned activist Hu Jia (胡佳) just updated her blog:

My situation has improved somewhat. Although my computer and other valuables have not yet been returned to me, I have to find ways to get on the Internet, and learn of news I hadn’t heard before.

I don’t know where to begin, returning to a discussion that’s been ruptured for several months. My heart is full of gratitude. I thank every friend who is paying attention to Hu Jia’s case; especially the young friend who waited 24 hours in the cold wind to bring powdered milk for my baby — I don’t even know his name, nor did I get a clear look at him, but since then, when I go into the kitchen, I’ve started a new habit of looking out the window, harboring a bit of hope, as well as a memory that is both brief and full. I thank the friend who got my website up, who in the critical moment where I lost contact, facing much pressure, spoke in place of me. Then there were those special friends who used a special method to support and encourage me, ensuing I did not end up in despair or lose all faith. The two words “thank you” are too weak and frail to fully express my feelings.

Since the afternoon of December 27th, I have asked myself endlessly what to do. Hu Jia believed that nothing could possibly happen before the Olympics, because everyone wished for a peaceful, glorious Games, no matter the differences between calling it the “harmonious Olympics” or “human rights Olympics.” In the middle of the night, after feeding my baby or changing her diaper, I stare up at the ceiling, listening to the sound of a chair rocking upstairs, and imagine every possibility, asking myself in the end what am I to do to make Hu Jia come home sooner, without sacrificing the rights and dignity of being human. Oftentimes before I know it, it’s light out.

In theory it’s very simple. Numerous statutes in the Chinese Constitution and international law ensure the protection of citizen’s rights as a simple and clear principle. But the brutal, irrational nature of the actual situation fills me with dread. Were it not for the support of friends and family, I might not have made it this far. Hu Jia has cirrhosis of the liver. He needs to eat well and get lots of rest, and cannot withstand vigorous physical activity. Yet during his first month in detention, he slept very little. He’s been interrogated in the middle of the night for anywhere between 6 and 14 hours, and has barely had a chance to get fresh air (only three times in the first 70 days, for less than a half-hour each time). On the tenth of February I said to Hu Jia: take care of yourself while you wait to be reunited with us. I said to the police: Even if you don’t beat him, if you use inhumane methods on him, it’s murder just the same. Please take good care of him. So long as he lives, any kind of suffering can be endured.

The only consolation is that our child is doing well. At around three months, she showed symptoms of calcium deficiency—excessive sweating, misshapen skull, easily startled—but she’s better now. When Hu Jia saw his baby on March 18th, he was shocked at “how big she’s grown.” Our baby smiled at Hu, grabbing his left forefinger with her tiny hand, as he looked at her saying, “She smiled! She smiled!” That day, we had no chance to speak of anything else. As I look at his pallid, slightly jaundiced face, it felt like a knife was twisting in my heart. I had a series of nightmares that night, and couldn’t sleep. Every day I wait for his news. Sometimes when the employee from the shop who comes with rice knocks on the door, I get up from the couch thinking he’s come back. The lawyer says, according to standard procedure, there should be a decision by April 7th.

Don’t call me.
If there’s something, send an email.
If you have a question, you can leave a message.
Having experienced no freedom, I treasure limited freedom all the more.
Unless the general situation improves, there is no way for us to truly escape our predicament.
I sincerely hope that technological and economic advancement is used to promote human happiness, and not to bring about misery.

10:11 PM March 29th, 2008

from: chinadigitaltimes

Shanghai’s petitioners went on a hunger strike to call for Hu Jia’s release once more. 
 
The tenth hunger strike day, on March 15, 2008, Saturday, sunny 
During the eleventh CPPCC and NPC, the news that Hu Jia will be charged on March 18, was spread silently. 

Hu Jia is one more Chinese who retains a consciousness and a high morality and who defends human rights after Gao Zhisheng and Guo Feixiong who have already lost their freedom. This is also one more case to help the world realise the truth in China. He is a human rights defender who will be charged as five-year prisoner.   

Due to his advocating the truth in China through media, Hu Jia has been kidnapped, placed under house and detained by secret policemen many times, and even got hepatocirrhosis; which reminds us that the petitioner Duan Huiming, who has a strong body was beaten to death, Chen Xiaoming who was kidnapped and put into prison and then died due to lack of medicine and cure for his hepatitis B. Also we remember Gao Zhisheng and Guo Feixiong who were mistreated by a horrendous and cruel penalty. 

We are very worried about Hu Jia and his life, and therefore called for the national leaders, Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, Wu Bangguo to help and show their consciousness in releasing Hu Jia: 

Hu Jia loves his country and the Chinese people, without any motivation to incite and subvert the national power: for he has no capacity to do this, he just has a deep sympathy for Chinese bitter people and upright consciousness, and is brave enough to face and tell the truth.   

For the excellent Chinese human right defender, for his health and life, for his little daughter, for the social justice; 

We, Shanghais’ petitioners appeal for releasing Hu Jia once again, please release Hu Jia without requirement, and keep your word — one world, one dream. Don’t make another wrong case and neglect the legal responsibility.  

Hu Jia is a proud Chinese!

Human Rights Watch

(New York, March 17, 200 - The Chinese government has repeatedly violated the rights of prominent human rights activist Hu Jia and his trial cannot meet minimum standards of fairness, Human Rights Watch said today. The trial is due to open on the morning of March 18 in Beijing. Hu has been indicted for “incitement to subvert state power,” a crime inconsistent with freedom of expression as protected under international law, because it allows criticism of the political system to be penalized.
Hu faces up to five years in prison. His lawyers have indicated that he intended to plead not guilty and that his wife, Zeng Jinyan, who has been confined at their home since his arrest, will not be allowed to attend the hearing.  [continues...]

BBC

A prominent activist who publicised human rights abuses across China has gone on trial in the capital, Beijing.

Hu Jia, 34, is accused of “inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system”.

The charges relate to interviews he gave to foreign media and political articles that he wrote for the internet, his lawyer Li Fangping said.

Mr Hu was detained late last year and then charged. His wife, also an activist, remains under house arrest.

‘Grave violations’

Mr Hu went on trial at the Beijing Number 1 People’s Intermediate Court.

Western diplomats who tried to enter the court were turned away, the Associated Press news agency reported. [continues...]

Beijing (AsiaNews) -

The Chinese authorities have kept a 4-month-old girl under house arrest since her birth, the daughter of the dissidents Hu Jia and Zeng Jinan. The little girl risks having her growth seriously stunted through lack of milk. The mother, who because of stress has stopped producing milk, is kept under surveillance by the police, who do not permit her to leave even to buy food for her daughter. The friends of the child’s father - Hu Jia, currently in prison - have launched a campaign over the internet to buy and bring powdered milk to the girl. [continues...]

Epoch Times

The trial of Hu Jia, the Beijing-based HIV/AIDS activist, is scheduled for March 18. Hu’s defense attorneys Li Jinsong and Li Fangping are busy preparing for the upcoming court date, and will meet with Hu once again before proceedings begin.

Hu Jia was detained on December 27, 2007, on charges of inciting subversion of state power, and formally arrested on these charges on January 30, 2008. On March 7, the prosecution delivered papers to the Beijing First Intermediate People’s Court for the March 18 trial.[continues...]

HONG KONG—Authorities in Beijing have formally charged AIDS activist Hu Jia with “incitement to subversion” after he wrote articles online critical of China’s hosting of the Olympics, his lawyers said.

Hu is formally charged with “incitement to subvert state power” and will be tried at the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People’s Court Tuesday, his lawyers, Li Jinsong and Li Fangping said.

“On Monday, March 10, a judge telephoned me and said that Hu Jia’s case had been sent to the court. He said that he had met with Hu Jia and informed him,” Li Jinsong said.

Five permits had been issued for relatives to attend the trial, but Hu’s wife Zeng Jinyan, currently under house arrest with her four-month-old baby daughter at the couple’s Beijing home, would not be in the public gallery, the lawyers said.

“A court official said that she probably would be refused a pass because she is a witness in this case,” Li said.

what’s more, click on here.

RSF

Reporters Without Borders today urged the international community to keep up the pressure on behalf of human rights activist Hu Jia, who is to be tried on 18 March 2008 on a charge of “inciting subversion of state authority”. The organisation reiterates its call for his immediate and unconditional release.

“The authorities have scheduled Hu’s trial for 18 March although no guarantees of fairness or transparency have been given,” the press freedom organisation said. “The recent arrest of one of his friends, lawyer Teng Biao, is an especially disturbing sign. Diplomats and journalists must insist on being free to attend the hearings.”[continues...]

Here is an update on news -

Hu Jia’s case has sent to people’s procuratorate, the lawyer went through the process on March 7th.

On that night, the lawyer Li Pingfang said, “The case has gone to procuratorate, the prosecutor’s first name is Zhang.  Lawyer Li Jingsong transacts all the process and they should arrange a meeting between Hu Jia and lawyer. The prosecutor has said clearly, this case will send to court in a short time.”

The policeman has told Zeng Jingyan on March 6, Hu Jia’s case has sent to procuratorate, and based on the case, Hu would be put into jail for five years. He has two criminal behavior, the first is in his public articles, some speeches attack the government; the second is in the interviews when he was interviewed by journalists, some speeches attack

But the lawyer Li Fangping said, from his opinion, this is policeman’s point view, the case should be judged in judicial processing. Whether this case is criminal, there is a big dispute.

Zeng has told policeman in detail, Hu Jia is not in the early stage of hepatocirrhosis but the late stage. She wants the public know that she still doesn’t certainly know if Hu get the medicine on time during in these two months, she is very worried about the virus has broke out but no distinct surface symptom, Hu’s life and health are in risk. She has required the policeman, face to face, shorten the time of Hu’s physical check in the case of have a chance to get the disease change.

Also Jinyan’s MSN Blog has been updated with a series of photo of police cars outside their house and a photo of a letter which is being translated currently.

China Aid

HONG KONG-Authorities in Beijing have formally charged AIDS activist Hu Jia with “incitement to subversion” after he wrote articles online critical of China’s hosting of the Olympics, his lawyers said.
Hu’s lawyers, Li Jingsong and Li Fangping, received the indictment from the court late Tuesday, they told RFA’s Mandarin service. He is formally charged with “incitement to subvert state power” and is likely to face imminent trial.

Hu Jia and his wife, Zeng Jinyan, January 2007. Photo courtesy of Hu Jia.
“It was almost 4 p.m. by the time we finished copying the indictment and other related documents,” Li Jingsong said. “On Monday, March 10, a judge telephoned me and said that Hu Jia’s case had been sent to the court. He said that he had met with Hu Jia and informed him…”[continues...]