Imprisoned Activist Hu Jia Still Denied Access to Adequate Medical Care

CHRD (Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 12, 2008) -

Imprisoned human rights defender Hu Jia (胡佳) continues to be denied access to adequate medical care.

Hu is in poor health and suffers from liver cirrhosis. Since his incarceration, Hu has had one physical check-up in late May, but neither he nor his family has been given access to the results. Authorities initially said that the results were ‘being examined’ and therefore not yet available. Later, the authorities said Hu’s health has “improved” without presenting evidence to support this claim. Hu’s family said Hu did not look well when they visited him on June 5.

The prison authorities also told Hu’s family that, according to the relevant Chinese law, unless he is so ill that his life is in immediate danger, sufferers of serious chronic illnesses would not be granted release for medical treatment until he has served a third of his sentence. Since the authorities have monopolized access to Hu’s current medical records, it is impossible for his family to dispute the authorities’ decision if and when they refuse to release Hu on medical grounds. [continues...]

Facebook and Twitter, political antagonists in China. Twitter se convierte en aliado de los blogueros para eludir la censura Twitter becomes ally of the bloggers to evade censorship

(Translated by Google from Spanish)

We speak from G1 O Globo, the success of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Curiously while Facebook has become a vehicle of support for the first Chinese minister, Twitter is used by dissidents to express their ideas.

China reached the end of February 221 million Internet users, for the first time surpassing the 215 million-US and becoming the largest community of the world, despite the many constraints that the network has in the Asian country. Internet became China in the medium preferred by younger because, in spite of government control of content, is still the best vehicle for discussion and expression of ideas in the country. [continues...]

Hu Jia denied external medical access while his wife has been sent to Fujian

From SOH News 10/06/08

The imprisonment of renowned Chinese human rights activist Hujia has been closely watched by many around the world. According to insiders, Hu’s wife, Zhen Jingyen and daughter boarded a plane under the watch of public security personnel on June fifth bound for her parent’s place in Fujian.

Zhen is currently under close watch by officials. SOH reporter who interviewed Hu’s attorney Li Fangping verified that the CCP has refused Hu’s application to access external medical attention, citing the reason is that Hu’s health condition is not yet critical. Attorney Li has expressed concerns over Hu Jia’s current situation. [continues...]

Olympic Irony

The irony of the olympic poster of chinese diver Hu Jia has been commented noted and commented upon in a couple of sites around the web….

Scholars Condemn Hu Jia’s Prison Sentence

Scholars Condemn Hu Jia’s Prison Sentence

Zeng Jinyan asks for harassment to stop

Zeng Jinyan wrote last week on her Twitter account that the heavy surveillance she and her daughter are under has been stepped up in recent days and now includes regular physical harassment.

Zeng appears to continue to have some sort of internet access, but judging from a letter posted to her blog yesterday, this move by authorities comes as a sharp reversal to a prior slight relaxation of the conditions of her ongoing house arrest:

“Dear Mr. Policemen,

The dozen or so of you are stationed in the courtyard. Your bikes parked, you wait for orders, through the blowing wind that chills you in winter, the bugs that bite you during the hot summer, and not a day off in the meantime. Aside from stopping people from visiting me, you even often block me from going out, or trail me when I go shopping, or take my baby to the hospital for shots, and it can be quite trying. My husband Hu Jia is now being held in Chaobai prison, and his freedom of movement and various other rights have been completely restricted. And I, left to raise our half-a-year-old daughter on my own, am barely left with enough time to look after myself; eating and sleeping regularly aren’t even guaranteed now. Recently, my child has been becoming a little naughty, and I can’t keep on my own, so I’ve hired an older woman to come in for a few hours each day to help out. You didn’t just completely investigate her background and that of her family, you even keep blocking her from entering my home, going as far as to threatening to see that she loses the job. The first thing you did after I hired her was run to her home to check her out, making her neighbors believe she’d been stealing or something, creating for her a lot of psychological stress. Even to this day, you treat just as horribly, putting pressure on her. But in bullying women and children around, you’re also an embarrassment to police.[continues...]“

Family of jailed Chinese activist targeted by police

From TheStar

Bill Schiller
Asia Bureau

BEIJING-The official sign at the entrance to the new housing complex inspires: “BOBO Freedom City” it proudly proclaims. But for the occupants of Apartment 542 in Building 76 there is no freedom.

Zeng Jinyan and her tiny, 6-month-old daughter, Qianci, are prisoners in their own home - kept under round-the-clock surveillance by Chinese security police.

The cops mill about the courtyard. They block the entrance. They even occupy the apartment above.

Zeng and her baby have done no wrong. They have broken no laws.

But they are the wife and daughter of one of China’s best known human rights activists, 34-year-old Hu Jia - and that has made them a target.

This spring, Hu was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power.” He had dared to criticize the state in media interviews and in articles on the Internet.

And in a Web presentation to a European parliamentary committee, he criticized the government for not keeping its promises to improve human rights before hosting the Olympic Games.

Hu’s residence had long been under close watch.

But since he was sent to jail, Chinese security police have stepped up surveillance of his wife and child, transforming day-to-day life into a living hell.[continues...]

US ‘takes seriously’ reports of China rights clampdown

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States is taking seriously reports that Chinese activists were subjected to a clampdown ahead of US-China talks this week on a range of human rights issues, a spokesman said Tuesday.
“We take these reports seriously. And we’re going to look into them,” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

McCormack was responding to reporters’ questions about information from the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), relayed to Washington through the US-based AIDS victim group Critical Path.

CHRD reportedly said that Chinese authorities placed numerous activists under increased surveillance ahead of talks in Beijing this week between US and Chinese officials, the first such dialogue on human rights since 2002.

Among the cases cited by Chinese activists was Zeng Jinyan, who is a blogger, activist and wife of jailed dissident Hu Jia. She reportedly was visited on Friday and Saturday by authorities who barred her from leaving the house.[continues...]

Update

As has been previously mentioned Hu Jia was moved to Chao Bai prison in Tianjin on May 7th. Yesterday Jinyan said; “I have not seen him since he was transferred to prison on may 7, conditions in that prison are very bad. I am seriously worried about his health.” When asked if she was able to get in contact with him she replied that she could not.

CECC translates HuJia’s Indictment

The following translation prepared by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) of “Hu Jia’s Indictment,” issued by the Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate No. 1 Branch on March 7, 2008.