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Wang Bingzhang,
new cause celebre, is unifying
China's pro-democracy movement

Campaign begins to free Wang Bingzhang
amid heated reaction, rising clamor of outrage

February 13, 2003 (CSN) -- An outpouring of response has continued to come from every corner of China's far-flung democracy movement, reflecting its universal revulsion, outrage, and condemnation of China for Monday's sentencing of Dr. Wang Bingzhang, one of the tallest, most senior figures among its leadership.

Who is Wang Bingzhang?

Dr. Wang's principled and courageous politics began at the time of China's Cultural Revolution, a 1966 - 1976 period of authorities going to excess, and of enormous misery, suffering, and death for millions of Chinese citizens. Dr. Wang, then a medical student, was jailed twice for his political views, before making his way to Canada, where he completed a doctorate in medical research. In 1982, he moved to New York, where he set up the Chinese Alliance for Democracy, and began publishing a periodical, China Spring. That magazine became popular with pro-democracy intellectuals in China, and among people such as the students in Tiananmen Square. At Tiananmen Square, Chinese college students led an uprising, calling for democracy and freedom, and had a six-week stand off with authorities, before it ended in the Tiananmen Square massacre, seen on world television, on June 4, 1989. In 1998, Dr. Wang snuck back into China to help form the China Democracy Party, also called the Chinese Democracy and Justice Party. He was caught by authorities and expelled from China. No less, the occasion cemented his fame and heroism in this cause.

What happened in the abduction of Wang Bingzhang?

John Kusumi muses, "The meeting may have been a set up." Wang Bingzhang, traveling with two other Chinese dissidents, set out to meet leaders of China's fledgling labor movement. The meeting was to take place in Vietnam, safely across the border from China. The setup of the meeting may have included ruses and lures by hosts with bad intentions. Together, the dissidents visiting from the West (two, including Wang, from the U.S., and one from France) became known as "The Democracy 3."

On the night of June 26, 2002, the Democracy 3 were abducted from their hotel, by men wearing Vietnamese police uniforms, and who spoke Mandarin Chinese. They were taken the 12 miles to the border with China, and placed on a boat which brought them into China. The abduction was well orchestrated, with cars waiting at the hotel and at the border, as well as a waiting boat. These details come to us from Yue Wu, one of the companions traveling with Wang in the Democracy 3.

The Free China Movement, on July 25, accused the Chinese government of kidnapping them. China denied that it was holding them. The Democracy 3 were held incommunicado for six months, until a December 19 report by China's Xinhua news agency admitted that they had the three in custody, "since July 3." The dispute lingers about the June 26 - July 3 period, with the Free China Movement insisting that the kidnappers were Chinese government agents, and with China saying that it rescued the three from a kidnap gang, and found them tied up in a temple on July 3.

China subsequently arrested Wang Bingzhang, and cleared his two companions of any charges. Wang stood trial in China on January 22, for charges of espionage and terrorism. The charges have been termed "ludicrous" by the Free China Movement, and a "yarn" by the China Support Network. Other adjectives have come from many quarters.

What happened Monday?

China announced a guilty verdict, and a sentence of life in prison for Wang Bingzhang.

What happened since Monday?

A rising international uproar is ready to pierce our eardrums. The CSN reported Tuesday about some reaction, and now there is more. The Free China Movement has released its intelligence that the trial's outcome and sentencing were ordained in advance by a "very important communist official in Beijing," who is quoted as saying, "Since he (Dr. Wang) is willing to spend his whole life in jail if that can end our Party's rule, in exchange then let him stay in jail for life!"

Wang Bingzhang himself has weighed in. A letter to his family, dated February 8, was published by a Hong Kong newspaper. Here is what Dr. Wang had to say--

Mom and Dad,

Family members, Hope you are all well,

I am writing this brief note to let you know I am alive and well. Since entering China, my basic living needs have been met, the food and drink have been not bad, with sufficient nutrition, and my health has not failed dramatically. The agencies and officials in charge of my care have been most courteous, so mom and dad, and family, please do not worry.

Also, with regards to the matter of my legal counsel. Both Min Yang and Chao Wen are independent lawyers in Guangzhou in private practice. The head of the Guangdong Province Bar Association, Yunhua Ci, met with me in person, and presented a list of recommended counsel. From among those listed, I selected Min Yang and Chao Wen. They seem to be very responsible in exercising their duties as lawyers, and presented a defense of not guilty before the Court. Please repose your trust in their professionalism, and bring any matters under consideration to their attention for discussion. My legal fees should be paid according to the sums specified in the contract. As to my daily living routine, every day I pray to God. I trust, the Lord will protect us.

Most pro-Chinese democracy leaders in the U.S. have gone on record with responses.

Wang Xizhe / FCM
"We are very angry. We lodge a strong protest."

Shengde Lian / FCM
"Dr. Wang's harsh sentence... has galvanized the pro-democracy movement everywhere. Protests in Washington DC and in other cities around the world are in the planning stages. Dr. Wang's cause will not die, even as he remains in prison. The peaceful struggle to end China's era of totalitarian rule is rising once again."

Yongjun Zhou / FCM
"Dr. Wang's trial took place only after its verdict and sentence was pre-ordained. The case of Dr. Wang was politically motivated. Its purpose was to link legitimate political dissent to terrorism. What we have here is not a case of Dr. Wang committing terrorism acts, but of the Communist government engaging in terrorist acts against pro-democracy dissidents."

Timothy Cooper / FCM
"What Beijing dreads most is waking up one day to find the head of the Chinese pro-democracy movement fitted on the body of the country's fledgling labor movement. [Dr. Wang was] one of the few people who could accomplish this feat."

Paul Risenhoover / FCM
"Whereas the Soviets had many 'show' trials, the communist Chinese only have 'no trials' with no evidence, no witnesses, no defense, no rights, and no due process."

Dan Yi / IFCSS
"More than one generation of Chinese students have benefited from Dr. Wang's efforts. The veterans of IFCSS would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his leadership in the early years. Let us carry on the cause for democracy and human rights."

Wei Jingsheng / OCDC
"Once again, this is an indication that the policy of tolerance and appeasement that the international society and American government has adopted to the Chinese dictator government has permitted the Chinese human rights condition to go backwards.

"According to Chinese law, if he did not enter China and violated Chinese law there, the Chinese court does not have legal jurisdiction over him. Instead, it should be the jurisdiction of the courts in the USA and Canada.

"We appeal to the US government and the Canadian government to come forward for fairness and justice, to request the jurisdiction rights of the American courts and the Canadian courts over the case of Dr. Wang."

Wang Dan
"There is no evidence to substantiate the charges [against Dr. Wang]. China should not see dissidents who have visited Taiwan as spies, and Chinese pro-democracy activists have never resorted to violence or taken terrorist actions."

Yan Jiaqi
"Mainland Chinese dissidents are peaceful and rational. The charges against Wang Bingzhang can hardly be true."

Xue Wei / Beijing Spring
"[Urges] all human rights groups in the world to give Wang Bingzhang a helping hand."

John Kusumi / CSN
"This is unifying the cause, and bringing it back to world attention. Beijing's CCP will come to look back on this move as a mistake. We add one more reason to justify the worldwide boycott of 'Made in China' goods."

The U.S. State Department also expressed its "deep concerns" about this case, with spokesman Richard Boucher saying, "We have made it clear to China on numerous occasions and at very senior levels that the war on terrorism must not be misused to repress legitimate political grievances or dissent." However, China publicly rejected the U.S. criticism.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council denied that Wang had been paid to gather intelligence for Taiwan. The council also criticized Beijing for ignoring human rights. In their statement, "China's ruling on this case demonstrates that China is still a country that can't respect human rights -- the universal rights valued by most of the international community." The council called on the international community to keep a close eye on developments.

At the China Support Network, Executive Director John Kusumi notes, "That man [Dr. Wang] has followers -- all pro-democracy Chinese, and all who pin their hopes on this cause. Nobody is letting go of this matter; we can expect to see an ongoing campaign to free Wang Bingzhang."

The demands of this case are creating a fundraising emergency at the Free China Movement. In a statement, FCM appealed for contributions, saying, "We hope that any donors interested in giving to support the prisoners in China would email: lead@freechina.net to make arrangements to wire funds to Dr. Bingzhang Wang or Dr. Jianli Yang." Kusumi pointed out, "Private donations will be very much in order at this time. I know that funds are needed at FCM, OCDC, IFCSS, and CSN."

Dispute over status of Wang Bingzhang

Natively a Chinese, Dr. Wang has at different times lived in China, Canada, and the U.S. Did he achieve Canadian citizenship, and did he renounce his Chinese citizenship? Dissidents say yes. In the United States, Dr. Wang achieved 'permanent resident' status, which is a step short of citizenship. That U.S. status is clear, as is the fact that Dr. Wang is a U.S. based dissident.

In announcements from the democracy movement, Dr. Wang has been termed a 'U.S. national.' That status entitles Dr. Wang to some further diplomatic protection, and jurisdiction of the U.S. legal system, than he might otherwise receive.

"The trouble now is that he is not receiving that U.S. service," says Kusumi. Horrified dissidents are coming to be at odds with U.S. officials, and an entire sidebar dispute is flaring. A statement by the Free China Movement's board of directors says,

Americans should know that our State Department refused to assist an American national and deeply religious Christian brother, Dr. Bingzhang Wang, in his hour of need after having been illegally kidnapped.

State Department officials in the Asia and Pacific Affairs bureau told US government journalists working for the Voice of America that Wang was not entitled to US diplomatic protection, and with reminiscences of the drama 'Red Corner' come to life, US Embassy officers in Beijing told the New York Times the same thing.

Shengde Lian, the Executive Director at the Free China Movement, said, "It's wrong and irresponsible for official to say Dr. Wang is not US National and there is no difference between US citizen and US national."

"This is a glib way for the State Department to wriggle off the hook, at a time when the conscience of the entire free world is being affronted -- at a time when the State Department should respond vigorously to this international abduction," notes Kusumi. "There is an immediate hole to be found in the State Department's line of the day. Looking into U.S. law, we can find that, yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as a non-citizen U.S. national."

Dissidents know that there is indeed a difference in the definitions of U.S. citizen, on the one hand, and U.S. national, on the other hand. They avow that Dr. Wang Bingzhang is a non-citizen U.S. national.

The U.S. government likely will not hear the end of this dispute until they come around to side with the Chinese dissidents. Kusumi quipped, "The State Department couldn't take the heat, and they got out of the kitchen, dodging their responsibilities in a cowardly way. People for freedom and democracy have the kitchen left all to themselves, alone."

Noting that Dr. Wang and his cause are all about democracy, freedom, and justice, the board of directors concluded in their statement, "It behooves all who cherish those same core American ideals to extend their best efforts to secure his [Dr. Wang's] immediate release and return."

This just in...

OVERSEAS CHINESE DISSIDENTS TO STAGE CROSS COUNTRY RALLIES TO CONDEMN CHINA'S BARBARIC LIFE SENTENCE OF DR. WANG BINGZHANG

• Rallies to take place in New York City and Los Angeles

Washington, DC--The Free China Movement is announcing two major rallies to take place on opposite ends of the country. The first is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2003 in New York City at the Sheraton Hotel at 1:00 p.m. Please contact Yongjun Zhou at (202) 255 6166 or Sun Yun at (718) 793-9638 for more information.

It will be sponsored by the Campaign to Free Dr. Wang Bingzhang. The speakers will include: Family members of Dr. Wang, Dr. Wang Bingwu of Toronto, Wang Yuhua from Canada, leaders of the Free China Movement, the editor of Huang Hua Gang Magazine, and representatives from various Chinese pro-democracy organizations.

The second rally is scheduled for Sunday, February 16 at the People's Republic of China Consulate in Los Angeles at 10:30 a.m.

It will be sponsored by China Democracy Movement organizations and LA Association of Film and Movie Artists. Speakers will include: Dr. Wang's daughter, Wang Qingyan, and Dr. Wang's sister, Julie Wang, of Los Angeles.

Dr. Wang Bingzhang was sentenced this week to life in prison on trumped up espionage and terrorism charges. Dr. Wang  was kidnapped on the Vietnam/China border last June by Chinese agents, held incommunicado for six months by the Chinese government although denying that they held him, and then convicted in a one day trial, and shortly  thereafter sentenced to life in prison.

Published by the China Support Network (CSN). Begun by grass roots Americans in 1989, CSN represents Americans who were "on the side" of the students in Tiananmen Square -- standing for democratic reform, human rights, and freedom in China. For dissident news; to support a stronger China policy; or get more information, see http://www.chinasupport.net.