China Times: Human Rights Organization Calls on President Bush to Show Concern for Persecuted Tsinghua University Students

By Shi Yuwen from Taipei

02/19/2002

Six Tsinghua University students who posted articles on Internet websites that oppose the persecution of Falun Gong were convicted of "violating the law through assisting an XX [Chinese governments slanderous term]" by the Xiangzhou District court of Zhuhai City. Originally they would have been sentenced, but the sentences were delayed due to U.S. President George Bush's visit to China. The Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy urged Bush to appeal to the Chinese government to free these Tsinghua students.

The Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said that these 6 students, Lin Yang (male), Ma Yan (female), Li Chunyan (female), Jiang Yuxia (female), Li Yanfang (female), and Huang Kui (male) are students from the Water Conservation/Hydropower Department, Architecture Department, and Engineering Physics Department. Since July 2000, they had been collecting information about cases from all over the country in which people who practiced Falun Gong were persecuted and posting this information on an overseas website.

They were arrested in Zhuhai in November 2000. At first they were charged with "overthrowing the country," but later the charge was changed to "violating the law through assisting an XX." The Xiangzhou District court of Zhuhai City tried them in September 2001.

According to sources from the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, they were going to be sentenced before the Spring Festival. However, the sentences were delayed until March because of Bush's arrival. The Centre got confirmation from the Xiangzhou District Court of Zhuhau City that it was "probable that they would have been sentenced to ten years or more in prison."

The Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy stressed that Tsinghua University, where President Bush is to make a speech when he visits, is known for the severity of its persecution of Falun Gong. Around 300 Tsinghua University professors or students have been temporarily detained or sent to labour camps in connection with Falun Gong activities since the crackdown on the group began in July 1999. On December 13th, 2001, four other students, Yao Yue, Meng Jun, Wang Xin, and Liu Wenyu were sentenced to between three and twelve years in prison by a court in Beijing on the same charge. Among them, Wang Xin and Liu Wenyu are Ph. D candidates.

The Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy calls on President Bush to give the human rights subject priority when talking with Premier Zhu Rongji and Vice President Hu Jintao, who are Tsinghua alumni, and to ask the Chinese government to release these students. Also, the centre hopes Mr. Bush will urge Chinese leaders to allow Xu Wenli and other ill prisoners who have different opinions about the government to receive sufficient medical attention.

Source: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/2/23/19151.html