Guo Feixiong, also known as Yang Maodong, is a civil rights lawyer who has been detained before and has been subjected to high surveillance (along with his family members), with the apparent goal of preventing him from speaking to journalists and to other human rights activists.

He has been detained again in Guangzhou since September on the pretext that he "runs an illegal business," though formal charges are just now underway. In addition to being detained without charges this long, he has told his lawyer that guards have been torturing him in an attempt to extract a confession. For the past 25 days, he has refused food and water in protest of the abuse. Radio Free Asia

Guo Feixiong has repeatedly upset authorities, most notably for providing legal assistance to a group of villagers in a case brought up against a local official accused of corruption. Guo was detained for helping that group. Chinese law technically upholds the right to petition against corrupt officials, but in reality, attempts to do so are met with retaliation.

LETTER:
Your Excellency,

I am writing to ask you to investigate the allegations that Guo Feixiong has been tortured in prison, including being tied down for 40 days in an attempt to extract a confession. China recently launched a campaign to end the use of torture to extract confessions, and Chinese law specifically bans the use of torture to extract confessions. In light of this campaign, I urge you to follow up on this matter. Guo Feixiong has reportedly been on a hunger strike for 25 days, seriously endangering his health. I urge you to make sure Guo is given any necessary medical attention.

In addition, Guo has reported that formal charges against him are being drawn up now, although he has been detained since September. There are serious concerns that the charges against him are a pretext to prevent Guo Feixiong from continuing his work as a civil rights lawyer. Guo Feixiong's work, however, is completely in line with the civil rights granted in China's Constitution. I urge you to look into the charges against Guo Feixiong and ascertain whether his rights are being violated, as the 2004 amendment to China's Constitution says that the government actively protects human rights.

Sincerely,


APPEALS TO:
Prime Minister
Wen Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council, 9 Xihuangcheng Genbeijie
Beijingshi 100032, People's Republic of China
Fax: + 86 10 65961109 or 2260 (c/o Minister of Foreign Affair)
Email: gazette@mail.gov.cn
Salutation: Your Excellency

Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee
ZHANG Dejiang Shuji
Zhonggong Guangdongsheng Weiyuanhui
Guangzhoushi, Guangdongsheng
People's Republic of China
Fax: + 86 20 83331606 (c/o government office)
Salutation: Dear Secretary

Director of the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Public Security
LIANG Guoju Tingzhang
Guangdongsheng Gong'anting
97 Huanghualu
Guangzhoushi 510050
Guangdongsheng
People's Republic of China
Fax: + 86 20 83111874
Email: jianyi@gdga.gov.cn