On Eve of 6-Month Countdown to Olympics, Police Stepped up Harassment on Zeng Jinyan
Comments Off on On Eve of 6-Month Countdown to Olympics, Police Stepped up Harassment on Zeng Jinyan(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, February 7, 2008)- CHRD learnt that, on the eve of the six-month countdown to the Beijing Olympics, Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕), HIV/AIDS and human rights activist, blogger, wife of arrested activist Hu Jia (胡佳), was put under tightened surveillance and threatened with imprisonment for speaking out about hers and her husband’s situation. Zeng has been under house arrest for more than one month. Her blog was blocked and she was told not to post articles on the Internet or speaking to supporters by phone. Her computer, cell phone and phone were taken away when Hu Jia was detained and their home raided. Police from the Beijing Municipal National Security Unit (guo bao) have carried out these acts of intimidation and punishment. Meanwhile, at the detention center, Hu Jia has been under pressure to plead guilty of his charge, “inciting subversion to state power.”
On February 6, the number of National Security Unit officers guarding Zeng increased to about fifty. Previously, these officers stationed at the corridors and downstairs from her apartment. They have now moved into the apartment directly above hers to eavesdrop on Zeng.
Since January 12, when reporters from the U.K. media Channel 4 took the opportunity to speak with Zeng while she was taking a walk with her baby daughter, over the fence of the apartment blocks, police have barred her from leaving her apartment. Police threatened to detain her for “inciting subversion of state power” if she fails to “cooperate.”
Hu’s parents were allowed to stayed with Zeng for a few days during the Chinese New Year holidays. However, tens of petitioners, bloggers and other supporters trying to visit Zeng were barred from visiting her. Zeng has not been able to receive the milk powder and fruits these visitors brought for her baby.
Although Hu Jia’s parents were allowed to visit him at the detention center on February 2, 2008, Zeng has so far been denied visits to Hu despite repeated requests. In addition, although Hu Jia was allowed to meet with his lawyer Li Jingsong (李劲松) on February 3, he was denied access to his other lawyer Li Fangping (李方平).
