2nd Anniversary of China's "709 Crackdown" | Bring Li Ming-che and the 709 Detainees Home

Yesterday (the 6th), the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on China to release Liu Xiaobo and Lee Ming-che, and to grant all detained individuals procedural guarantees consistent with Chinese law, including the right to meet with family members and to retain counsel of their own choosing. Marking the second anniversary of the world-shocking China 709 crackdown, several Taiwanese NGOs concerned with human rights in China held a press conference calling on China to immediately release Lee Ming-che, Liu Xiaobo, and those detained in the 709 case; expressing solidarity with Teng Biao's initiative for "Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Day"; and urging the Chinese government to afford defendants and suspects in its custody due process that meets international standards.

Legislator Yu Mei-nu, who also serves as the convener of the Inter-Parliamentary Human Rights Promotion Association of Taiwan, first expressed outrage over the persecution by China of Lee Ming-che, Chinese human rights lawyer Xie Yang, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, noting: "The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the UN Human Rights Council has officially replied that it has accepted the Lee Ming-che case, and the European Parliament has passed a resolution demanding that China release Lee Ming-che and Liu Xiaobo." Yu Mei-nu also condemned China's deliberate concealment and delayed treatment of Liu Xiaobo, stating that these actions contradict the Chinese government's external claims that it "protects the right to life and health of persons serving sentences in accordance with the law." Against this backdrop, she added, one cannot help but worry whether "China can ensure Lee Ming-che's health and personal safety as it claims to the outside world." Finally, Yu Mei-nu noted that the "709 case" has reached its second anniversary, yet the Chinese government's persecution of human rights lawyers and their families has not ceased, and she called upon the Chinese government to grant detained individuals due process conforming to international standards.

Attorney Lin Tzu-lin, chairperson of the Human Rights Committee of the Taipei Bar Association, noted that the 709 case has entered its second year, with lawyers still detained by China—Attorney Wang Quanzhang, for instance, has been detained for over 700 days without any family visits, representing a severe lack of procedural safeguards. Lin Tzu-lin called on the Chinese government to comply with its domestic laws and international human rights obligations. Lin Tzu-lin also urged Taiwan's Legislative Yuan to pass a refugee act as soon as possible, expressed support for the 709 detained lawyers and law firm assistants, and voiced solidarity with Attorney Teng Biao's initiative for "Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Day." Finally, Lin Tzu-lin stated that no lawyer or citizen should face censure or adverse treatment simply for defending human rights.

Attorney Wei Chien-feng, vice convener of the Taiwan Support Network for Chinese Human Rights Lawyers, began his remarks by expressing solidarity with Lee Ming-che, Liu Xiaobo, and the 709 detained lawyers. Wei Chien-feng remarked: "What kind of country is it that can abduct two to three hundred lawyers and law firm personnel within a week or two?" He also cited the recent instance of the Sino-British Joint Declaration being treated as a "historical document" to illustrate that China's oppression is fundamentally the same whether directed at its domestic populace, Hong Kong, Tibet, or Taiwan. Beyond taking good care of itself, Taiwan must also do its utmost to support human rights in China.

Chiu I-ling, secretary-general of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, noted in her remarks that during the debate on yesterday's European Parliament resolution, Members of the European Parliament repeatedly emphasized that even amid extensive trade ties with China, the EU must not forget human rights values; unfortunately, no cross-party legislators in Taiwan spoke out on this matter. Chiu I-ling pointed out that today marks the second anniversary of 709. With Lee Ming-che and other 709 detainees still unreleased, this second anniversary is not a commemoration, but a reminder. Chiu I-ling stated: "Although they have been forcibly disappeared and are not physically before us, we will not forget them, nor will we forget the values of human rights and democracy they championed. We choose to stand with these values. When we abandon these values, remain silent, and compromise with power, we truly forget them." Finally, Chiu I-ling called upon the Taiwanese government and civil society: "When international media, international human rights groups, the European Parliament, and UN human rights mechanisms have all stated their positions, what are the positions of the Taiwanese government and Taiwan?"

Huang I-pi, executive director of the Covenants Watch, explained that in early April this year, regarding the Lee Ming-che case, Covenants Watch submitted an appeal to the emergency response system under the UN Human Rights Council. By late April, they had requested the Chinese government to provide a clear explanation regarding the Lee Ming-che case, and the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances subsequently accepted the case. The working model of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances serves as a channel connecting the families of the disappeared with the government responsible for their disappearance; any future responses from the Chinese government will be provided by the Working Group to Lee Ming-che's family and Covenants Watch.

Finally, the moderator announced that this Sunday marks the second anniversary of 709. To show solidarity with Lee Ming-che, Liu Xiaobo, and the human rights lawyers and defenders victimized in China's 709 incident, a screening of the documentary Undead will be held that day (July 9) from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM in Meeting Room 3A at the National Taiwan University Alumni Club. At the same time, a screening of the documentary The 709 People will take place in the briefing room on the 1st floor of the New Taipei City Library Yonghe Branch, followed by a petition booth and signature-gathering event at Yonghe No. 4 Park from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM that afternoon.

Attendees

Legislator and Convener of the Inter-Parliamentary Human Rights Promotion Association of Taiwan / Legislator Yu Mei-nu
Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee of the Taipei Bar Association / Attorney Lin Tzu-lin
Vice Convener of the Taiwan Support Network for Chinese Human Rights Lawyers / Attorney Wei Ch'ien-feng
Secretary-General of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights / Ch'iu I-ling

Organizers

Inter-Parliamentary Human Rights Promotion Association of Taiwan
Yonghe Community University
Wenshan Community University
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Covenants Watch
Judicial Reform Foundation
Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty
Taiwan Association for Innocence
Taiwan Support Network for Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
Association for Public Advocacy