Swedish Newspaper Östran: Pressing Charges Against the Head of State

Kalmar citizen Ulrik Dahlgren is pressing charges against China’s former head of state, Jiang Zemin, for crimes against the UN convention on torture.

Three years ago Ulrik was imprisoned in conjunction with a demonstration in Tiananmen Square against China’s persecution of Falun Gong. For five days he was incarcerated, five days that left deep scars on Ulrik.

Around the world there are now several lawsuits against Jiang Zemin, among others. Ulrik’s lawyer Peter Bergquist believes that putting pressure on China can lead to better human rights in the long run.

Millions of people are today incarcerated in labour camps after the persecution against Falun Gong began and many thousands have lost their lives.

Getting cold feet

You might think that the Chinese would get cold feet and that these crimes would be investigated in China. Then the trials can be held in China, says the lawyer Peter Bergquist, who nevertheless does not want to speculate in advance.

Earlier in Sweden, similar charges have been pressed where, for example, foreign persons have been defendants in a case. Such a case was the murder of a girl committed by her two brothers in 1999 in Iraq, but, the trial was held in Sweden. Lawyer Peter Bergquist was hired. He also started the legal process against the Argentinean Lieutenant Alfredo Astiz for the kidnapping of Dagmar Hagelin.

Ulrik is not the only Swede who is a plaintiff in this lawsuit. In addition, there are many lawsuits in other countries against high-ranking leaders in China, among them Jiang Zemin. Peter Bergquist believes that lawsuits in other countries can stimulate lawsuits in China and from a broader perspective it can lead to improved human rights in China.

Originally published in Swedish at http://se.clearharmony.net/articles/200506/14759.html