Access to Justice
According to the New York Times and Human Rights in China, on December 29, 2011, authorities tried dissident human rights lawyer Ni Yulan and her husband Dong Jiqin on charges of "picking quarrels" and "fraud" under China's Criminal Law. Their lawyer entered a not guilty plea and requested access to new evidence, which the Xicheng District Court reportedly has taken under consideration. According to Ni and Dong's indictment (Chinese), the underlying charges stem from the couple's alleged refusal to pay for their hotel room, arguments with hotel staff, and Ni's alleged misrepresentation of facts surrounding her case and herself as a lawyer for the purpose of defrauding money from others.
Reported Changes in Official Restrictions on Chen and Family
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One year ago, the Nobel Committee awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo "for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." Today, Liu Xiaobo remains in a Chinese prison serving the third year of an 11-year sentence, while authorities hold his wife under a de facto form of house arrest.
In late July 2011, authorities in Suqian city, Jiangsu province, ordered unregistered pastor Shi Enhao to serve two years of reeducation through labor (RTL), a form of administrative punishment without trial, according to international media reports dated July 25, 2011, (ChinaAid Association (CAA)) and July 26, 2011, (Associated Press (AP), via Yahoo!; AsiaNews; Radio Free Asia (RFA)).
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The plight of Chen Guangcheng and his family continues to attract attention inside and outside China. Chen is a self-trained legal advocate who has represented farmers, the disabled, and other groups. He is perhaps best known for the attention he drew to population planning abuses, particularly forced abortions and forced sterilizations, in Linyi city, Shandong province, in 2005.
Hu Jia's Release
Authorities released Hu Jia into the care of his wife, Zeng Jinyan, in the early morning of June 26, 2011, according a New York Times report (26 June 11). On her Twitter page, Zeng Jinyan reported that they would not be able to receive visitors, indicating that numerous security vehicles were stationed outside their home in Beijing. Zeng said that she had returned to Beijing on June 19 after her landlord, citing unidentified pressure, served her a notice of eviction from her apartment in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. According to Zeng, eight security personnel escorted her from the Beijing airport.
Prior Advocacy Efforts and Official Harassment
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In recent months, Chinese officials reportedly have conducted one of the harshest crackdowns in years against human rights lawyers, civic activists, and other advocates. Those targeted have advocated on behalf of specific groups and issues, such as victims of earthquakes, diseases, and tainted food, child laborers, persecuted religious groups, and political dissidents.