RFA Reports Jiang Yanyong Continues to be Subject to Surveillance and Restrictions

October 18, 2004

Citing unnamed sources in Beijing, Radio Free Asia reports that retired physician Jiang Yanyong continues to be subject to government surveillance and restrictions on his movements and personal interactions. RFA also reports that Jiang is not allowed to access the Internet from his home. Jiang Yanyong wrote a letter, dated February 2, 2004, to key Chinese government and Communist Party officials describing his eyewitness account of treating wounded patients who entered his surgery ward at PLA No 301 Hospital on June 4, 1989. The letter, which called on the Party to re-assess its official verdict on over the Tiananmen democracy movement, was posted on the Internet in early March 2004. Jiang was questioned shortly afterwards, and was detained along with his wife on June 1, 2004. According to Human Rights in China, he was detained while on his way to apply for a U.S. tourist visa. During his detention, Jiang was subjected to "education" sessions to change his view on Tiananmen. He was never formally arrested or charged with a crime, and was released from detention in mid-July 2004.