Let me run that by you again. CHRLCG estimates that 709 lawyers have been tortured by the Chinese state in only 24 months ! There’s not much that would make me return to HK but this would be something to attend if it were possible.
Press Invitation
Protest against Use of Torture on 709 Lawyers
You are cordially invited to cover the following event.
Almost 2 years have passed since the 709 Crackdown commenced in 2015. During the Crackdown, Chinese authorities, public security authorities in particular, committed a large number of illegal acts, amongst which the use of torture and ill-treatment against detainees, in order to extract their confessions and to obtain their witness statements. In response to the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, which is on 26 June every year, China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group will published the Report on Use of Torture in 709 Crackdown on that day this year.
The report shows that at least 14 human rights lawyers and activists have suffered torture and ill-treatment during detention. The Chinese government has used as various as 15 methods of torture and ill-treatment, including 10 methods of physical harm (beating, restraint in handcuffs and shackles, prolonged fixed posture, dangling chair, electric shock, eye-stinging with smoke, fatigue interrogation/ sleep deprivation, refusal of medical treatment, compulsory medication/ intake of unknown substances, and deprivation of basic rights and security to wellbeing), as well as 5 methods of psychiatric harm (solitary confinement, social isolation, intimidation, verbal assault and compulsory psychiatric counselling). The number of authorities involved in the above practices is as large as 13, including 6 regional detention centers, 5 regional public security bureaus, 1 regional prison and an unknown 709 special unit.
In view of the above, the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group (CHRLCG), the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, New School for Democracy, the Justice & Peace Commission of the H.K. Catholic Diocese as well as the League of Social Democrats will jointly hold a “Protest against Use of Torture on 709 Lawyers”, to voice our objection to the Chinese government’s use of torture and ill-treatment against human rights lawyers and activists.
We strongly demand the Chinese government to conduct independent investigation proceedings into the use of torture and inhuman treatments on 709 Lawyers, and to hold the perpetrators criminally accountable. The Chinese government shall also immediately launch amendments to its current legislation, to criminalize the use of torture and inhuman treatments according to standards stipulated in the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and to repeal the measure of “residential surveillance at designated location”.
Details of the protest are as follows:
Date: 26 June 2017 (Monday)
Time: 15:00 pm
Venue: Assemble outside the Western Police Station and march to the China Liaison Office
Organisers: China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group (CHRLCG), Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, New School for Democracy, Justice & Peace Commission of the H.K. Catholic Diocese and League of Social Democrats
Speakers: Emily Lau Wai-hing (Board Member of China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group), Leung Kwok-hung (Legislative Councilor, League of Social Democrats), Joseph Cheng Yu-shek (Board Member of New School for Democracy)
Enquires: Alan Wong – CHRLCG (mobile: +852 9430 1379)
