China Human Rights Lawyers Group: One-Year Anniversary of the Shattered Dream of the Rule of Law

※ This article was republished from China Rights Defenders

Once upon a time, they walked the earth of our motherland just like us—braving wind and rain, breathing the smog and haze, rescuing the vulnerable and helping those in distress. Once upon a time, they worried and labored over their parents' medical care and their children's schooling just like us. Once upon a time, they were intoxicated by the magnificent and grandiose dream of China, believing in governing the country according to law, bearing heavy moral responsibilities on iron shoulders, upholding the law to protect human rights, unwavering in their commitment like the mythological bird Jingwei or Sisyphus.

Everything's dream was shattered on 709!

Starting from the early morning of July 9 last year when Chinese police illegally detained Wang Yu's family, the state's apparatus of violence was fully unleashed. Within just a few days, dozens of human rights lawyers and defenders across the country had their homes raided and were subjected to enforced disappearance; hundreds of lawyers, scholars, and activists concerned with civil and political rights were forcibly summoned, intimidated, and restricted from speaking out. Even worse, some relatives of human rights defenders suffered collective punishment, being driven out and subjected to exit bans...

If this were merely a short-lived spasm of a state apparatus armed to the teeth, perhaps there would be no need for excessive surprise; after all, such scenes are no longer uncommon in this country. The people of China have never been free from fear. On the contrary, in a present day where one can at any moment "become like Hsu Ch'un-ho" or "become like Lei Yang," fear accompanies our very existence. Yet this brazen crackdown on human rights defenders—in its level of operation, operational methods, breadth, and intensity—demonstrated a high degree of coordination and synchronized planning. It highlighted the new characteristics of stability maintenance following the establishment of a certain super-powerful agency. Today, people will witness the transformation from the erstwhile short-lived spasms of the violence machine to the normalization of high-pressure repression. For this "achievement," certain individuals will surely "go down in history."

Over this past year, those human rights lawyers and defenders subjected to enforced disappearance endured six months of so-called "residential surveillance at a designated location." After being arrested under approval on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power" or "subversion of state power," they are now reportedly transferred to the Tianjin No. 1 or No. 2 Detention Center;

Over this year, they have been unable to obtain legal assistance from lawyers retained by their families, nor have their families been able to obtain the slightest shred of information regarding their physical or mental health;

Over this year, despite appeals from family members, the struggles of lawyers, attention from foreign media, and the concern and condemnation of foreign governments and NGOs, the Chinese police have remained indifferent, callous, and cold-blooded to the very end! They play fast and loose with the law, willfully distorting and maliciously applying it, parading different marionettes on various occasions and at different times to field inquiries and questioning.

What is most chilling and heart-wrenching is the behavior of certain unscrupulous lawyers. Disregarding their own conscience and moral sense, they sold their souls to Satan, collaborating with lawbreakers to act as the nominal defense counsel for the lawyers and human rights defenders arrested in the 709 crackdown, serving as a pretext for the police to dismiss the lawyers retained by the families. Yet they dare not contact the family members, dare not disclose their real names to the outside world, and dare not fight for the lawful rights and interests of their own clients. The cowardice of sewer rats fearing the sunlight is no match for this. While they may hold high positions in bar associations, enjoy high incomes and glamorous attire, and possess prominent social standing, their image and role in this incident resemble nothing more than a pretty piece of tile decorating a toilet bowl.

One year is not long, but under isolation and confinement, it is enough to ravage a person's entire life; one year is not short, but it is enough to shatter into pieces the pretense of governing the country according to law in people's hearts!

Over this past year, they were on the inside, and we are on the outside. They are on the inside, bearing witness with their flesh and blood to the lies of this prosperous era and the cowardice of totalitarianism; we are on the outside, joyfully watching the awakening of civil rights and the rising tide of collective resistance. By suppressing human rights lawyers, this country has not become more peaceful or stable as the meat-eaters had anticipated.

Over this past year, their wives and family members have increasingly come to understand them, and some wives have even bravely stood up, "leaving behind adornment to fight rogues," continuing their cause of striving for and defending rights.

Over this past year, we have missed them every single moment—their clear and steadfast convictions, their vigorous and resolute conduct, their loves, hates, grievances, and passions, their voices and smiles...

They walk upon the earth of our motherland with firm steps and profound gazes; they have never left, nor will they ever leave; they are China's human rights defenders, and they love this land and its people with a profound devotion!

History will ultimately remember, and at this moment let us speak their names aloud together—

Wang Yu, Wang Ch'üan-chang, Li Ho-p'ing, Hsieh Yen-yi, Hsieh Yang, Li Ch'un-fu, Sui Mu-ch'ing, Chou Shih-feng, Hu Shih-ken, Pao Lung-chün, Liu Szu-hsin, Wu Gan, Chao Wei, Lin Pin, Kou Hung-kuo, Liu Yung-p'ing, T'ang Chih-shun, Hsing Ch'ing-hsien, Chai Yen-min, Liu Hsing, Chang Wei-hung, Li Yen-chün, Yao Chian-ching, Yin Hsü-an, Wang Fang...

China Human Rights Lawyers Group, July 8, 2016