Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei, convicted of "illegally crossing the border," has appealed the court's decision and authorized his family to release the original verdict, calling it another blow to human rights lawyers. He disputes the verdict's content, arguing it is inconsistent with the facts. Lu's wife, Zhang Chunxiao, also accused the authorities of inhumane behavior by denying her husband proper medication and medical examinations.
Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei was convicted of "illegally crossing the border" in a Chengdu court last month and sentenced to 11 months in prison and a 10,000 yuan fine. Lu's wife, Zhang Chunxiao, confirmed to RT-TV on Thursday (May 15) that Lu has appealed the verdict. She said that during a meeting with Lu on Tuesday (May 13), her lawyers had obtained his consent to release the first-instance verdict. Lu issued a statement accusing the political police of daily illegal surveillance, harassment, and interception, forcing him to risk leaving the country. He criticized the verdict for serious discrepancies between the evidence and the facts and the tampering of the transcript. He refuted the accusation of collusion with foreign forces and emphasized that leaving China was his way of saving himself. He believes the verdict is another blow to human rights lawyers. Zhang Chunxiao agreed with Lu's views, adding that Lu's prosecution and conviction were a result of suppression and punishment for his refusal to comply.
Zhang Chunxiao said, "If he hadn't been placed under border control, he could have come to the United States through normal channels because he had a US visa and a valid passport. Why did he take such a risk? Because he had already been treated illegally and unfairly! The Sichuan Provincial Department of Justice targeted him for the 12 Hong Kong residents case. The Department of Justice wanted Siwei not to take over the case, but he refused. As a result, he was under almost 24-hour surveillance and his travel was restricted. This is one of the sources of the persecution. These are all a series of persecution tactics used to deal with disobedient people and force them to submit."
Authorities refused to allow Lu Siwei to undergo a thyroid test or medication. Zhang Chunxiao: This is inhumane.
Zhang Chunxiao stated that Lu Siwei, who had previously suffered from thyroid cancer and undergone surgery, had experienced a deteriorating health condition since his detention. She added that her husband required regular medical checkups and medication for his skin disease, but the detention center's refusal to provide him with appropriate treatment was inhumane.
Zhang Chunxiao said, "I'm most worried about his health. After thyroid surgery, the doctor requires lifelong medication and six-month checkups, but he hasn't had that opportunity yet. He's already missed two checkups, and his health has been severely damaged over the past year, and his living conditions are much worse than usual. The detention center prescribed some medication for his skin disease, but it's not very effective. They refused to accept the medication we sent him, and his condition has worsened instead of being under control. This is an inhumane act."
Human rights lawyers criticize the refusal to arrange medical examinations for detainees as persecution and torture.
Wu Shaoping, a human rights lawyer who has been following Lu Siwei's case, said that regardless of whether the detainee is guilty or innocent, the right to see a doctor and receive medical treatment while in custody should be protected by law. However, Lu Siwei's experience shows that the CCP is torturing detainees by obstructing treatment, which is like using torture.
Wu Shaoping said, "Given the patient's actual physical condition, the detention center had no reason to refuse. But the CCP blatantly deprived him (Lu Siwei) of his rights. Even though his family had provided medication, they still refused. They tortured those who were forcibly detained through illness. This is, of course, a form of persecution and torture. They (the CCP) can completely ignore your medical needs and disregard your health. In fact, we can see that those detained in the CCP's detention centers and prisons have not received basic medical care and health guarantees."
Wu Shaoping stated that according to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, citizens have the right to freedom of movement within their own country and the right to leave. However, Lu Siwei was restricted from moving and leaving the country simply because he is a human rights lawyer and has represented human rights cases. His risky departure was a reasonable act of self-preservation, and he believes Lu Siwei has grounds to appeal.
Wu Shaoping stated, "The CCP was the first to break the law, using state power to persecute a citizen and illegally infringing upon him. Legally, Lu Siwei was also illegally infringed upon. Under the law, when a person faces illegal infringement, they can seek private remedies. His forced risk of leaving the country to escape the pain of a life deprived of his freedom was also a result of persecution by this regime, so his actions were not illegal."
Wu Shaoping said that the details of the verdict in the Lu Siwei case showed that his mobile phone data and call software backup content were cracked by the authorities, which shows that using Apple phones and overseas communication software in China is not necessarily a safe way to communicate with the outside world. Dissidents in China should be vigilant.
