Bu Dongwei – imprisoned for his beliefs. RELEASED 2008
8 May 2008, 03:47PM
Bu Dongwei
Bu Dongwei was been tortured, beaten and locked up, all because of his spiritual beliefs. His release 4 months early came after international pressure and actions by people all across the world calling for his release. THANK YOU to all of those who took part in these actions. We were unable to share the news of Bu's release with you at the time, because he and his family were fearful that he would again be harassed and potentially detained if there was public attention on his case. Bu was released before the Olympic Games, and it was well recognised that at this time authorities were targetting dissidents and removing 'unwanted elements' from Beijing. Now that the attention has decreased, we are thrilled to share this GOOD NEWS with you.
Bu Dongwei was arrested in mid-2006, accused of what authorities called "resisting the implementation of national laws" and disturbing social order, Bu Dongwei was sentenced without trial to two-and-a-half years' detention, under a scheme known as Re-education Through Labour.
Bu Dongwei, who worked for a US aid organisation in Beijing, belongs to the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is outlawed in China on the grounds that it's a 'threat to social and political stability'.
We believe Bu Dongwei is a prisoner of conscience and call for his immediate release.
Tortured and beaten
It's not the first time Bu Dongwei, who is also known as David Bu, had been detained. In 2000 he served 10 months in a re-education facility after asking authorities to review their ban on the Falun Gong. At the same time his wife, Lou Hongwei, was serving 12 months in a different re-education facility - she was also a Falun Gong practitioner.
That time authorities said he had used "a heretical organisation to disrupt the implementation of the law". He was reportedly tortured, beaten and deprived of sleep – in a bid to force him to renounce his beliefs.
Authorities stated that Bu Dongwei made a verbal confession and that police uncovered 80 copies of Falun Gong literature in his home. His family say the police found at most eight books.
His relatives, who for three months after he was taken away weren't told where he was, were asked by authorities to pay 400 Yuan (about A$60) a month for his living expenses whilst he was held in detention.
Locked up without trial
China has been using 'Re-education Through Labour' (RTL), without trial or charge, as a punishment since the 1950s. Because of the vague language around who can be held for 're-education' the police are able to detain people who are just exercising their basic human rights.
Hundreds of thousands of people are thought to be held in these centres. We regularly receive reports of people being tortured or suffering other cruel or degrading treatment while being held for 're-education'.
For years China has proposed legislation to reform or replace the system, but so far nothing has happened.
In the build up to the Olympics China has increased the use of RTL and introduced new forms of detention, such as drug rehabilitation camps, in the name of public order. In May 2006, authorities reportedly used 're-education' detention to hold vagrants and petty criminals in a bid to 'clean-up' the city.
Striking hard
Beijing Public Security Bureau’s deputy director Fu Zhenghua has said they "do not rule out the possibility of compelling all drug abusers in the capital to five up their addictions before the Olympics".
Zhou Youngkang, China Minister of Public Security, has been quoted saying China must "create a harmonious society and a good social environment" to ensure a successful Olympics.
"We must strike hard at hostile forces at home and abroad, such as ethnic separatists, religious extremists, violent terrorists and 'heretical organisations' like the Falun Gong who carry out destabilising activities."
Falun Gong banned
Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained since the spiritual movement was banned in 1999.
People accused of being Falun Gong leaders or organisers have been sent to prisons and held in psychiatric hospitals. Most are held in the 're-education' centres where torture or ill-treatment of detainees is reportedly common.
Falun Gong groups outside China have documented more than 2,000 deaths in custody since the crackdown began. It has been claimed many of the deaths are the result of enforced organ harvesting.
We are investigating these reports, but so far haven't been able to independently verify them.
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