Online Book Launch for The Stolen Right to Counsel by Attorney Wu You-Shui

The Stolen Right to Counsel was written by Attorney Wu You-Shui, the father of a defendant in the "Changsha Three" case described in the book and a lawyer who had sought to serve as defense counsel in the case. The book was published by Qucheng Culture on the 22nd, the second anniversary of the arrests. The Judicial Reform Foundation and the New School for Democracy jointly held an online book launch. In addition to introducing the book and hearing from the author, the event invited the wife and a former colleague of another defendant to explain the background of the case and recent developments, including reports that the three had been secretly sentenced. 

JRF Chairperson and book recommender Attorney Lin Yung-Sung opened the event by introducing the publication. The author and Shi Ming-Lei, wife of defendant Cheng Yuan, then discussed the case background, human-rights violations, and recent developments. Lu Jun, co-founder of the anti-discrimination NGO Beijing Yirenping Center, described the situation facing Changsha Funeng and the risks confronting NGO workers in China. Chinese human rights lawyer Chen Jian-Gang outlined the methods and scale of license suspensions and revocations affecting lawyers and the circumstances they face after losing the right to practice. Finally, Li Quan-He, managing partner of Daheng International Law Offices in Taiwan and counsel in several major Taiwanese public-interest cases, discussed the relationship between the Changsha Three case and the Chinese government's suppression of lawyers, the significance of publishing the book, and the importance of solidarity from Taiwan and the international community. The moderator also explained follow-up promotional activities, including donating copies to libraries, holding school-club talks and reading groups, and disseminating related information.

Author Wu You-Shui was wanted by the authorities in the spring and summer of 1989 after protesting the violent suppression of students during the June Fourth crackdown. He founded his own law firm in 2007. Beginning in 2013, he exposed and criticized coercive family-planning policies and other government measures that violated human rights. He was later suspended from bar membership and from legal practice for nine months each on grounds including "improper speech" and "speech endangering national security."

Changsha Funeng was founded in 2016 as a civil society public-interest organization promoting systemic protection of disadvantaged groups through policy advocacy and legal empowerment. On July 22, 2019, Cheng Yuan, Wu Ge-Jian-Xiong, and Liu Da-Zhi were arrested on suspicion of "subversion of state power." Attorney Wu You-Shui prepared to defend his son, Wu Ge-Jian-Xiong, personally, but was deprived of that right after authorities claimed that his representation had been "terminated."

At approximately 100,000 Chinese characters, The Stolen Right to Counsel is both a deeply personal indictment of China's judicial system by the family member of a political prisoner in the Changsha Three case and a first-person account of Wu You-Shui's experiences and observations as a human rights lawyer in China.

Attendees

Lin Yung-Sung / Chairperson, Judicial Reform Foundation
Shi Ming-Lei / Wife of Cheng Yuan, defendant in the "Changsha Three" case
Lu Jun / Co-founder, Beijing Yirenping Center
Chen Jian-Gang / Chinese human rights lawyer
Li Quan-He / Managing Partner, Daheng International Law Offices

Press Contacts

Rio, Assistant Researcher, International Division, Judicial Reform Foundation