Bermuda: Amnesty International Starts Campaign For The Release Of Lizhi He As A Prisoner Of Conscience

Hamilton, Bermuda - On August 28, 2002, Amnesty International (Bermuda) started a letter writing and signature campaign for "the immediate and unconditional release of Lizhi He as a prisoner of conscience." Mr. He is the husband of a Canadian permanent resident Ms. Li Zhang. Amnesty International (Canada) started a letter writing campaign for him in June, 2002 (http://www.amnesty.ca/actnow/actchina2.htm).
Below is a letter from the chairperson of Amnesty International Bermuda to the Chinese Ambassador to Canada.

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[Mr. Ambassador,]

We write to express our deep concern that LIZHI HE, a senior civil engineer with the Chinese government and a Falun Gong practitioner who had been accepted to emigrate to Canada, has been imprisoned in China in violation of his right to freedom of belief. [...] He was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison on December 5, 2000.

Since the Falun Gong was banned by the Chinese government [...], tens of thousands of practitioners have been arbitrarily arrested; others have been detained in psychiatric hospitals. More than 350 Falun Gong practitioners are reported to have died in Custody. [Editor – inside sources have revealed the number of practitioners who have been tortured to death is more than 1,600]. Some of those detained have been charged with crimes and sentenced after unfair trials, while others have been sent to labour camps without trial.

We are very concerned about reports that LIZHI HE is suffering from kidney and lung problems, and urge the Chinese authorities to ensure that he receives appropriate medical care while in custody.

We further respectfully ask the Chinese authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of Lizhi He as a prisoner of conscience.

Lucy Attride-Stirling
Chairperson
Amnesty Bermuda