The summon was related to the issues of the Chinese Petitioners' Rights Defense Association, a recently formed group of Chinese lawyers committed to protecting the rights of petitioners and promoting rule of law throughout China. 

On the same day, Christian human rights lawyers Jiang Tianyong and a member of the Lawyers Association, Zhao Changqing, were also summoned. At about 2 p.m., ten staff from the Beijing Police Station and Public Security Bureau branch office (three in uniform) raided Zhao's home in Xiwang, Beijing. After searching and messing up his home for about half an hour, they brought him to the Shangdi branch police station and interrogated him for nearly five hours. He was released after 7 p.m.

Also, another member of the Association was requested to go to a branch police station on August 6 in the morning for summon. He has also been demanded to report to the police if he leaves Beijing for a trip.

The actions taken by the Beijing police are obviously targeting the Association. Before the incidents, another two of the members, Bai Dongping and Hu Shigen, were summoned earlier by Beijing police about their involvement in the Association.

"We are deeply concerned about the worsening situation regarding the petitioners and rights defenders," said Bob Fu.  "To intimidate the rights defenders and lawyers as well as other civil society builders is certainly a serious step backward from the rule of law that the Chinese government and leaders have claimed to the international community."

Mr. Yang Huifen welcomes calls for interviews at his cell phone: +86 1-368-110-8292

ChinaAid is concerned with the acts of oppression against the Association and its members.  We call for the Chinese and international communities to pay close attention, and to insist that China's government authorities hold to a higher standard of justice.

View this article at ChinaAid.org.
See the previous report from June 30, 2010