Draconian Jail Terms Imposed on Chinese Dissidents Just 11 Weeks After China Signs International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Strategic Insights -

Yesterday, Chinese dissidents Xu Wenli and Wang Youcai were handed draconian jail sentences of 13 and 11 years, respectively, for subversion after a trial that lasted only three-and-a-half hours. This move is shocking, especially considering China's recent signing of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the apparent progress made in dialogue with Western governments over human rights.

Key Takeaways:

  • Xu Wenli, a 55-year-old veteran activist, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for subversion after a trial that lasted only three-and-a-half hours. He had been detained by police for six hours in October, coinciding with Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Peking.
  • Wang Youcai, a 32-year-old fellow dissident, was jailed for 11 years on the same charges. His trial was held in Hangzhou city, and he was forced to defend himself due to the detention of his chosen lawyer and others being frightened off.
  • The official verdict accused Xu Wenli of "secretly planning" to set up cells for the China Democracy Party and "sought and accepted financial assistance from foreign hostile organisations." No details of the supposed evidence were reported.
  • Xu Wenli's wife, He Xintong, was the only family member or friend allowed at the closed-door trial in Peking and stated that Xu Wenli responded to questions from his court-appointed lawyer but refused to answer questions from the judge.
  • The trials are embarrassing Western governments, which welcomed China's recent reforms to its rules on criminal procedure and have backed projects to train Chinese lawyers, judges, and court officials in the hope of improving the country's flawed legal system.
  • The US embassy in Peking described the jail terms as "deplorable," and the Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett said he was shocked at the speed with which Mr Xu was tried and the severity of his sentence.

Statistics:

  • 13 years: the jail sentence imposed on Xu Wenli
  • 11 years: the jail sentence imposed on Wang Youcai
  • 55: the age of Xu Wenli
  • 32: the age of Wang Youcai
  • 3-and-a-half hours: the length of the trial
  • 6 hours: the duration of Xu Wenli's detention by police in October
  • 12 years: the amount of time Xu Wenli has already spent in jail for pro-democracy activities
  • 10 days: the amount of notice Xu Wenli's family members expected to receive before the trial
  • 1 day: the actual amount of notice Xu Wenli's family members received before the trial

Sources:

  • The Times, October 7, 1997, "Blair praises China's human rights dialogue"
  • The Times, November 28, 1997, "Chinese dissidents get 13 and 11 years for subversion"
  • Xinhua News Agency, November 28, 1997, "Trial of two dissidents held according to law"