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The Urgent Action Network - Amnesty International

Post Office Box 1270

Nederland CO 80466-1270

Phone: 303 440 0913

Fax: 303 258 7881
e-mail: sharrison@igc.apc.org

UA 150/95 Arbitrary arrest / Fear for Safety 28 June 1995

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Hongda Harry Wu (M) Aged 58

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Background Information

Recommended Action

Addresses of Appeal Letters (China)

Addresses of Appeal Letters (U.S.A.)

Appeal Letter to Premier Li Peng of China

Appeal Letter to Director, Department of Justice, Xijiang Autonomous Region

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Background Information

Hongda Harry Wu, a naturalized citizen of the United States of America (US) and
former political prisoner in China, was detained in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region on Monday 19 June 1995. His place of detention since 23 June 1995 is
unknown; he has reportedly been denied access to a representative of the US
Embassy and there are serious concerns for his physical safety.

Harry Wu and a companion were stopped by the Chinese authorities at a town on
the Kazakhstan/China border on 19 June 1995. They were initially taken to a
guesthouse near the border town of Horgas, while the authorities reportedly
investigated the legitimacy of their travel documents. While at the guesthouse,
they were kept under guard, their movements were restricted and they were not
permitted to contact the US Embassy or anyone else.

At dawn on 23 June 1995, Harry Wu's companion, also a US citizen, was taken
from the guesthouse and later returned to the US. Also on that day the US
Embassy in Beijing was informed of the detentions by the Chinese authorities
who said that they were continuing to conduct an investigation into the
validity of Harry Wu's travel documents.

Amnesty International believes that his detention may be related to his
involvement in publicizing information about political imprisonment and human
rights abuses in China and that he is, therefore, a prisoner of conscience.
Amnesty International also has well-documented concerns about routine
ill-treatment of detainees in police custody and therefore fears that Harry Wu
may be at risk of such treatment.

According to the Laogai Research Foundation, Harry Wu, whose legal name is
Peter H. Wu, was traveling on a US passport with a visa issued by the Chinese
authorities on 11 March 1995, valid for two entries into China and expiring on
11 September 1995.

Harry Wu was born in China and is the founder and Executive Director of the
Laogai Research Foundation. He is a well-known human rights campaigner,
particularly focusing on the laogai (labour camp) system in China. In 1960 he
was arrested and spent 19 years in a labour camp for expressing his political
ideas. He left China in 1985.

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Recommended Action:

Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters:

requesting that the Chinese authorities immediately and unconditionally release
Hongda Harry Wu;

urging the authorities to ensure that, while in detention, Hongda Harry Wu is
treated in accordance with international standards for the treatment of
prisoners and that he is protected from all forms of ill-treatment;

requesting that his place of detention be made public and he be permitted
visits by a representative of the US Embassy.

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Appeals To:

Premier of the People's Republic of China:

Li Peng Zongli

Guowuyuan

9 Xihuangchenggenbeijie

Beijingshi 100032

People's Republic of China

Telexes: 716 210070 FMPRC CN or 716 22478 MFERT CN

Faxes: 011 86 1 512 5810 (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Telegram: Premier Li Peng, Beijing, China

Director of the Department of Justice:

Shayimu Rehefu Tingzhang

Sifating

Jiangkanglu

Wulumuqishi 830002

Xinjiang Zizhiqu

People's Republic of China

Telegram: Director of the Department of Justice Shayimu Rehefu, Wulumuqi,
Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China

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Copies of Your Appeal To:

Editor in Chief, Xinjiang Daily:

Zongbianji

Xinjiang Ribao

Wulumuqishi

Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu

People's Republic of China

Chinese Ambassador to the United States

Ambassador Li Daoyu

Embassy of the People's Republic of China

2300 Connecticut Ave. NW

Washington DC 20008
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Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office between 9:00 am
and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after August 9,
1995.

This Urgent Action appeal originated from Amnesty International's research
headquarters at the International Secretariat in London, United Kingdom.
Amnesty International is an independent worldwide movement working for the
international protection of human rights. It seeks the release of men and women
detained anywhere because of their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic origin, language
or religious creed, provided they have not used nor advocated violence. These
are termed prisoners of conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all
political prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without charge
or trial. It opposes the death penalty and torture or other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation.

Attachments: Sample Letters
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July 3, 1995

Li Peng Zongli

Guowuyuan

9 Xihuangchenggenbeijie

Beijingshi 100032

People's Republic of China

Dear Premier,

I wish to express my strongest concern over the detention of Hongda Harry Wu on
19 June 1995.

Mr. Wu is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was traveling to China on a valid
passport and visa. According to the U.S. State Department, his incommunicado
detention violates U.S.-China treaty obligations. The human rights organization
Amnesty International has already adopted

Mr. Wu as a prisoner of conscience. Mr. Wu is very well known to the U.S.
Congress and to the international community.

You can rest assured that the uproar over his detention will not die down until
he is unconditionally released and in good condition.

I urge you to immediately grant Mr. Wu access to U.S. diplomatic
representatives, in accordance with U.S.-China treaty obligations. His place of
detention should be made public and he should be allowed to communicate
privately with his wife. The world will hold you personally responsible for his
physical well-being.

He should be protected from all forms of ill-treatment, including sleep
deprivation.

I am writing to my representatives in the U.S. Congress and to President
Clinton, urging that the strongest possible measures be used to secure Mr. Wu's
release, including revocation of China's Most Favored Nation trading status.

Sincerely yours,

Your Name, Your Address

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July 3, 1995

Shayimu Rehefu Tingzhang

Sifating

Jiangkanglu

Wulumuqishi 830002

Xinjiang Zizhiqu

People's Republic of China

Dear Director,

I wish to express my strongest concern over the detention of Hongda Harry Wu on
19 June 1995.

Mr. Wu is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was traveling to China on a valid
passport and visa.

According to the U.S. State Department, his incommunicado detention violates
U.S.-China treaty obligations. The human rights organization Amnesty
International has already adopted

Mr. Wu as a prisoner of conscience. Mr. Wu is very well known to the U.S.
Congress and to the international community. You can rest assured that the
uproar over his detention will not die

down until he is unconditionally released and in good condition.

I urge you to immediately grant Mr. Wu access to U.S. diplomatic
representatives, in accordance with U.S.-China treaty obligations. His place of
detention should be made public and he should be allowed to communicate
privately with his wife. The world will hold you personally responsible for his
physical well-being. He should be protected from all forms of ill-treatment,
including sleep deprivation.

I am writing to my representatives in the U.S. Congress and to President
Clinton, urging that the strongest possible measures be used to secure Mr. Wu's
release, including revocation of China's Most Favored Nation trading status

Sincerely yours,

Your Name, Your Address

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