By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
NEW YORK, United States – The Chinese government has closed down a legal aid center in Beijing and has disbarred 53 lawyers in an all-out effort to silence the country’s human rights defenders.
Last Friday, Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau officials raided and closed a nongovernmental legal research center, Open Constitution Initiative (OCI). OCI takes on “officially sensitive” cases for groups and individuals whose fight for justice is hindered by China’s political system.
The officials claimed that OCI was closed down for failure to pay taxes and for improper registration, but OCI believes that the forced closure was politically motivated. Sophie Richardson of Human Rights Watch said, “The attack on OCI marks a new low in the Chinese government’s campaign against human rights defenders. This is precisely the kind of organization whose work the government should value….”
Among the 53 lawyers who were disbarred included an eminent civil rights lawyer, Jiang Tianyong, who has represented high-profile Tibetan monks and victims of slave labor rings. Other lawyers, whose works include representing HIV/AIDS patients and peasants in land disputes, have been taken by the police, handcuffed and beaten. There are also reports of law firms being forced to close.
Chinese petitioners whose legal channels have been frustrated (Source: AP)
The Beijing Justice Bureau announced that lawyers’ licenses were revoked because the individuals had failed to apply for re-registration. However, critics argue that the Chinese government is intentionally removing means through which Chinese citizens can obtain legal assistance. Furthermore, Beijing Bureau of Legal Affairs issued a notice to lawyers telling them to be “cautious” in defending suspects linked to the recent riots in Urumqi.
Tang Jitian, whose license has been revoked and is under house arrest, said, “Some authorities don’t like those lawyers who speak for the people. They think we are enemies…What police and the authorities are doing is destroying Chinese law.”
Human Rights in China and its executive director Sharon Hom also voiced their concerns saying, “This suppression will inevitably lead to…creating greater disadvantages for already persecuted groups and greater social instability.”
Human Rights Watch is urging the Chinese government to make a choice since “eliminating legal aid, banning legal research, and hobbling lawyers” will only hurt the Chinese society.
For more information, please see:
Guardian – China accused of ‘all-out attack’ on lawyers – 8 June 2009
The Huffington Post – China’s Civil Rights Lawyers: The New Enemies of the State – 20 July 2009
Human Rights Watch – China: Cease Attacks on Rights Lawyers – 17 July 2009
