Less than three months after being released from prison, Chengdu dissident Chen Yunfei has been caught up in a renewed campaign of repression. Police have repeatedly summoned him for questioning and restricted his freedom of movement. His 91-year-old mother was forcibly evicted and injured while he was incarcerated, and her belongings mysteriously disappeared from their home. With no recourse for his rights, Chen Yunfei is preparing to file a civil lawsuit.
On March 24th of this year, Chen Yunfei was released from prison after serving a four-year sentence. However, according to multiple friends, he was not freed, but instead placed under another round of ongoing stability maintenance surveillance. Between April 30th and May 30th, Chen was repeatedly taken into custody for questioning for posting or reposting sensitive comments on social media platforms, including articles from the Minsheng Watch website and policy warnings to top CCP officials.
Chen Yunfei's comrade, Mr. Guan, told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday (the 18th) that Chen Yunfei was again taken away by officers from the National Security Bureau and Xipu Police Station in Chengdu's Pidu District at 3 p.m. on June 3rd. "During a five-hour interrogation, Chen Yunfei was forced to sit on the 'tiger bench.' Police accused him of 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble,' citing evidence including his retweeting of Pastor Wang Yi, scholar Ming Juzheng, and dissident Cai Chu. Police presented no legal documentation, and his cell phone and Wi-Fi equipment were confiscated for three days. After Chen repeatedly protested, they were returned that evening."
According to his friend Mr. Guan, the police summoned Chen Yunfei to produce a subpoena: "This is a completely illegal summons. The police can't produce a subpoena and dare not file a case. Instead, they repeatedly use interrogations and intimidation to create a chilling effect."
