Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING19039
2006-09-08 14:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

HUMAN RIGHTS: RIGHTS ACTIVIST HU JIA RELEASED;

Tags:  PHUM PGOV CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBJA #9039 2511453
ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZUI RUEWMCF0985 2511452
O 081453Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 019039 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2031
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH


SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: RIGHTS ACTIVIST HU JIA RELEASED;
INTERROGATED ABOUT LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG

REF: BEIJING 18914

CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL INTERNAL UNIT CHIEF SUSAN
THORNTON. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 019039

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2031
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH


SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: RIGHTS ACTIVIST HU JIA RELEASED;
INTERROGATED ABOUT LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG

REF: BEIJING 18914

CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL INTERNAL UNIT CHIEF SUSAN
THORNTON. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: BEIJING-BASED ACTIVIST HU JIA WAS
RELEASED BY SECURITY AUTHORITIES ON THE EVENING OF
SEPTEMBER 7, IN APPARENT COMPLIANCE WITH A RULE THAT
ALLOWS AUTHORITIES TO DETAIN CITIZENS FOR A PERIOD OF
UP TO 12 HOURS FOR QUESTIONING WITHOUT EXPLANATION.
AUTHORITIES INTERROGATED HU ABOUT HIS CONNECTION WITH
DETAINED LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG, TELLING HU THAT HU IS
SUSPECTED OF UNSPECIFIED "CRIMINAL ACTIVITY."
SECURITY AUTHORITIES TOOK HU AWAY AGAIN ON THE MORNING
OF SEPTEMBER 8 FOR FURTHER QUESTIONING, BUT LATER
RELEASED HIM. HE IS CURRENTLY UNDER HOUSE ARREST.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) ACTIVIST HU JIA'S WIFE ZENG JINYAN (PROTECT)
PHONED POLOFF THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 7 TO SAY THAT
HU HAD RETURNED HOME AFTER BEING RELEASED BY SECURITY
AUTHORITIES. THE TIMING OF HU'S RELEASE APPARENTLY
COMPLIES WITH A RULE ALLOWING AUTHORITIES TO DETAIN
CITIZENS FOR UP TO 12 HOURS AT A TIME FOR QUESTIONING
WITHOUT EXPLANATION. ZENG SAID AUTHORITIES TOLD HU,
WITHOUT ELABORATING, THAT HE IS SUSPECTED OF "CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY." AUTHORITIES ALSO TOLD HU SEPTEMBER 7 THAT
THEY WOULD RETURN THE NEXT DAY TO QUESTION HIM
FURTHER.


3. (C) HU TOLD ZENG THE SEPTEMBER 7 INTERROGATION
FOCUSED MAINLY ON HU'S CONNECTION TO DETAINED ACTIVIST
LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG. (NOTE: HU HAS SOUGHT HELP FOR
GAO IN OBTAINING LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND HAS WIDELY
DISSEMINATED INFORMATION BOTH ABOUT GAO AND ABOUT
GAOS WIFE AND CHILDREN, WHO REMAIN UNDER HOUSE ARREST
IN BEIJING WHILE GAO IS DETAINED. GAO WAS DETAINED
AUGUST 15 IN SHANDONG PROVINCE. BEIJING AUTHORITIES
HAVE SINCE SAID GAO IS BEING HELD ON SUSPICION OF
INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. END NOTE.)


4. (C) ZENG SAID HU SPENT THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 7 AT
THEIR APARTMENT, BUT WAS DETAINED AGAIN ON THE MORNING
OF SEPTEMBER 8 BY SECURITY OFFICERS IN TWO UNMARKED
CARS. THOUGH THE PHONE LINE AND INTERNET CONNECTION
AT THE APARTMENT REMAIN CUT, ZENG SAID AUTHORITIES
HAVE NOT REMOVED ANYTHING FROM THE APARTMENT. FOUR OR
FIVE SECURITY OFFICIALS REMAINED DOWNSTAIRS ON THE
NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 7 TO ENFORCE HU'S HOUSE ARREST, BUT
THEY DID NOT ENTER THE APARTMENT. ZENG REPORTED LATER
ON SEPTEMBER 8 THAT HU HAD AGAIN BEEN RELEASED AND
RETURNED HOME. HE REMAINS AT HOME UNDER EFFECTIVE
HOUSE ARREST, BUT HAS APPARENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT HE
WILL NOT BE QUESTIONED AGAIN FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS.
RANDT