amnesty international
CHINA
Christians arrested during Easter
and others serving sentences
12 May 1995 AI INDEX: ASA 17/26/95
DISTR: REL CO/GR/SC
Over 20 Roman Catholics and Protestants are reported to be in detention after a large
number of arrests were made during Easter celebrations in April 1995. Those arrested
belong to religious groups who peacefully carry out their religious activities outside the
officially recognized Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) and Three-Self Patriotic
Association.
Amnesty International is concerned that the people named in this document are prisoners
of conscience and urges the Chinese government to release them immediately and
unconditionally.
Jiangxi province
Between 30 and 40 Roman Catholic believers were separately arrested on 13, 14, 18, 19,
25 and 26 April 1995 by police officers from Linchuan city, Jiangxi province. Many were
released shortly after arrest, but 17 people are believed to remain in detention.
Those still detained are reported to be held in several places including detention centres in
Chongren county, Yihuang county and Linchuan city in Jiangxi province. They are
Cui Maozai male, age 42, arrested April 26
Gao Jianxiou female, age 46,
Gao Shuyun female, age 45, detained in Chongren town
Huang Guanghua female, age 43, detained in Linchuan town
Huang Meiyu female, age 40
Lu Huiying female, age 51
Pan Kunming male, age 30
Rao Yanping female, age 18
You Xianyu female, age 42
Wang Yuqin a nun, age 23, arrested April 25
Wu Yinghua female, age 30
Wu Jiehong female, age 46
Yu Shuizai male, age 50, arrested April 26
Zeng Yinzai female, age 60, arrested April 25
Zhang Wenlin male, age 60, is reported to be blind
Zhu Changshun male, age 40, arrested April 13
Zhu Lianrong male, age 49
According to reports many of the detainees were beaten by police officers during their
arrests and two women detainees, Gao Shuyun and Huang Guanghua were so badly
beaten that they now need help to eat.
Hebei province
On 17 April 1995 an unofficial Roman Catholic priest, Chi Huitian was arrested by police
officers from Shuangjingcun, Ningjin county, Hebei province. Chi Huitian had been
preparing to celebrate Easter mass for a large congregation in an open field near his home.
According to sources, Chi Huitian was told by the police to cancel the planned mass and,
in future, to take his instructions from the Catholic Patriotic Association diocesan bishop.
He was also told that his congregation must attend the Easter Mass being held in the local
CPA church and that they should permanently transfer there to worship.
Chi Huitian and his congregation allegedly refused to accept the instructions from the
police and were threatened with having fines levied against them if they attended the
unofficial Easter mass. In addition, Chi Huitian was told that his house would be sealed and
sacred altar items confiscated if he and the congregation did not comply. Despite these
threats, Chi Huitian reportedly went ahead with his Easter Mass and he was subsequently
taken away by police officers. It is not known where he is being detained.
Shanxi province
Three Protestant house-church leaders were arrested on 13 April 1995 at a house-church
meeting in Changzhi city, Shanxi province. According to reports, everyone present at the
meeting was arrested, most were subsequently released but six people remain in custody.
The six detainees are believed to be three local house-church leaders, who were not
named, and three non-locals who were named as Li Tianen, a housechurch leader, in his
late 60s from Shanghai; Chen Qunying, a surgeon from Hangzhou and Brother Shi. Li
Tianen has been arrested and detained on more than one previous occasion.
On 20 April 1995 Chen Qunying's home in Hangzhou was reported to have been searched.
It is understood that he suffers from diabetes and a heart condition and had recently taken
early retirement due to poor health. He only has a limited supply of medicine with him.
Qinghai province
Qin Guoliang and Li Zhixin, Roman Catholic priests from an unofficial church in Qinghai
province are reported to be serving two years of "reeducation through labour" at Duoba
Labour Camp outside Xining, Qinghai province. The majority of prisoners at Duoba
Labour Camp are reported to have to work at carrying rocks and blocks of ice.
Qin Guoliang, aged 60, was arrested in Xining on 3 November 1994 and is reported to be
in poor health due to the hard work he was made to do at the labour camp. Sources say
that since March 1995 he has been permitted to perform lighter duties and is now prison
treasurer. Reports also say that Qin Guoliang does not receive sufficient food and has a
swollen face. He spent 15 years from 1955 imprisoned for his religious activities outside
the official church. After serving his sentence he reportedly remained at the Xining No.4
Labour Camp as a "detained employee" producing bricks.
Li Zhixin was arrested on 29 March 1994. Before his arrest he was a worker at the Huafei
factory in Fujiahai, Xining city, Qinghai province.
Please send telegrams/telexes/express and airmail letters either in English, Chinese or your own
language,
expressing concern that Cui Maozi, Gao Jinaxioiu, Gao Shuyun, Huang Guanghua, Huang Meiyu,
Lu Huiying, Pan Kunming, Rao Yanping, You Xianyu, Wang Yuqin, Wu Yinghua, Wu Jiehong, Yu
Shuizai, Zeng Yinzai, Zhang Wenlin, Zhu Changshun and Zhu Lianrong from Linchuan town,
Jiangxi province, are believed to be detained for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of
religion and urge that they be immediately and unconditionally released;
express concern that Gao Shuyun, Huang Guanghua and others were reportedly beaten during
arrest and urge the Chinese authorities to investigate these allegations and bring any perpetrators
to justice;
Director of the Jiangxi province Justice Department
Fan Youxian, Tingzhang
Sifating
50 Beijingxilu, Nanchangshi
Jiangxisheng
People's Republic of China Faxes: +86791 222 847
Telegram: Director of the Provincial Justice
Department Fan Youxian, Nanchang, Jiangxi,
China
expressing concern that Chi Huitian from Ningjin town, Hebei province is believed to be detained
for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of religion and urge that he be immediately and
unconditionally released;
Director of the Hebei province Justice Department
Zhang Chunfu, Tingzhang
Sifating
3 Shiyilu, Shijiazhuangshi 050051
Hebeisheng
People's Republic of China Faxes: + 86 311 26615
Telegram: Director of the Provincial
Department of Justice Zhang Chunfu,
Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China expressing concern that six Protestants, including Li Tianen, Chen Qunying and Brother Shi are
believed to have been detained after a house-church meeting in Changzhi city, Shanxi province,
for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion and urge that they be immediately and
unconditionally released;
also expressing concern that Chen Qunying is reported to suffer from diabetes and a heart
condition for which he only has limited medical supplies;
Director Shanxi province Justice Department
Wang Xiwen, Tingzhang
Sifating
Xinwenyuanxiang
Taiyuanshi 030001
Shanxisheng
People's Republic of China
Telegrams: Director of the Provincial
Department of Justice, Taiyuan, Shanxi
province, China
expressing concern that Qin Guoliang and Li Zhixin have been sentenced without charge or trial
to periods of "reeducation through labour" which they are now serving in Qinghai province for
peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion and urge that they be immediately and
unconditionally released;
Director of Qinghai province Justice Department
Zhaxi Nima, Tingzhang
Sifating
151 Nandajie
Xiningshi 810000
Qinghaisheng
People's Republic of China
Telegram: Director of the Provincial
Department of Justice Zhaxi Nima, Xining,
Qinghai Province, China
This document is sent to China and CHIRAN coordinators for action by groups. It is sent
to Sections for information only. Check with the East Asia Sub-Regional Team if sending
appeals after 15 June 1995. Number of words: 1292
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT, 1 EASTON STREET, LONDON WC1X 8DJ, UNITED KINGDOM
