Further Information on UA 240/07 (ASA 17/042/2007, 07 September 2007):
Fear of torture or ill-treatment

Human rights activist Yang Chunlin, who was detained on 6 July, is said to have been tortured in Heitong Police Station in Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang province. He is still held incommunicado after more than three months in detention. Amnesty fears he is at further risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Yang has reportedly been subjected to a form of torture commonly used in China : his arms and legs were stretched and chained to the four corners of an iron bed, so that he could not move, and he had to eat, drink and defecate in that position. People subjected to this experience intense pain all over their body. He is believed to have suffered this treatment twice, for six days in early August and one day in September, and to have been forced to watch other people being subjected to this punishment and then clean up their defecation.

Yang is believed to have been tortured in this way partly because he has refused to confess to the crime of « subversion of state power » for his involvement in collecting signatures Yang Chunlin was detained for his involvement in collecting signatures for a petition entitled « We Want Human Rights, not the Olympics ». He has reportedly also been teaching other inmates about their human rights.

Yang Chunlin had been active before his detention in supporting a legal action brought by more than 40,000 local farmers whose land had been confiscated without adequate compensation. In 2006 Yang was detained four times for his involvement in this case, and for his participation in a hunger strike organized by Beijing human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. Earlier this year he is said to have launched a campaign behind the slogan « We Want Human Rights, not the Olympics » to capture the frustration of local farmers, who feel that the Bejing Olympics is being used to distract attention from violations of their human rights, such as the confiscation of their land. Later the slogan was adopted by other groups around the country.

RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Chinese, English or your own language :

• expressing concern at reports that Yang Chunlin has been tortured in police custody ;
• calling on the authorities to intervene to stop the torture and ill-treatment of Yang Chunlin and order an independent, impartial, investigation ;
• calling on them to release him immediately and unconditionally, as he has been detained solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression ;
• while he remains in custody, urging the authorities to guarantee that Yang Chunlin will have access to any medical treatment he may require ;
• calling on them to immediately allow him regular visits from his family and lawyers.

APPEALS TO :

Prime Minister WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli The State Council 9 Xihuangcheng Genbeijie Beijingshi 100032, People’s Republic of China Fax : +8610 6596 1109 +8610 6596 2260 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Salutation : Your Excellency

Director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Public Security WANG Donghua Tingzhang Heilongjiangsheng Gong’anting 145 Zhongshanlu Nangangqu Ha’erbinshi 150001 Heilongjiangsheng People’s Republic of China Email : hljga@163.com Fax : +86451 2696218 +86451 2622132 Salutation : Dear Director

COPIES TO :

Director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Jiamusi City Department of Public Security Jiang Zhifang Juzhang Heilongjiangsheng Jiamusi Shi Gong’anju 100 Baoweilu Jiamusi shi 154002 Heilongjiangsheng People’s Republic of China Fax : +86454 8298012 Salutation : Dear Director

Ambassade de la République Populaire de Chine Avenue de Tervueren 463 1160 Bruxelles Fax : 02.762.99.66 Fax : 02.779.28.95 Email : guo-wensong@fmprc.gov.cn

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 19 November 2007.