Wang Bingzhang

Wang Bingzhang
Chinese 王炳章

Wang Bingzhang (Chinese: 王炳章; pinyin: Wáng Bǐngzhāng; born December 30, 1947) is a political activist and founder of two Chinese pro-democracy movements. He is considered a political prisoner of China.

Biography

Wang Bingzhang was born on December 30, 1947, in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. He graduated from Beijing Medical University and served as a doctor for eight years. In 1979, he was sponsored by the Chinese government to study abroad in McGill University, Canada where he obtained his Ph.D. degree in pathology in 1982.[1]

In 1982, Wang established China Spring, the first pro-democracy Chinese magazine overseas. In the next year, he launched the "Union of Chinese Democracy Movement" publicly denouncing the one party rule in China. He later traveled back to China and co-founded two opposition parties, the Chinese Freedom Democracy Party and Chinese Democracy Justice Party in 1989 and 1998, respectively. The latter led to his arrest in China. He was expelled from the country, but was not sentenced.[1] In early 2002, Wang was in Thailand where Royal Thai Police investigated him at the request of the Communist Party of China. Finding no evidence against him and fearing for his safety, Dr. Wang was urged to leave the country. In June 2002, Wang went to Vietnam with Yue Wu and Zhang Qi where they were abducted by Chinese secret agents. In December 2002, the Chinese government announced his arrest after six months in secret custody.[2]

In February 2003, Wang was sentenced to life in prison, on charges of espionage and terrorism. His trial was closed to the public and lasted for one day. He is imprisoned in Shaoguan Prison in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, China.[2]

In March 2006, Wang was punished for misbehavior when he locked a guard in his cell with him. Communication with Wang, including visitation rights for family, was cut off, and family was informed that the punishment would last for 3 months. Shortly after, in April 2006, his father died, to which he responded with a hunger strike. This resulted prolonged punishment. Visitation rights were restored in November 2006. According to Dr. Bing Wu Wang, Wang's younger brother, his physical health deteriorated rapidly since the last visitation. This was due, according to Wang, to a new prison warden with lower food quality requirements, harsher physical abuse and intense political study sessions.[3]

Various international organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Worldrights, etc., have voiced their opposition to Dr. Wang's imprisonment, saying China is arbitrarily detaining him.[4] The United States and Canadian legislatures have both passed legislative bills in support of Wang and in denunciation of the CPC's actions.[5][6]

Notes

  1. 1 2 An Introduction Of Dr. Wangbingzhang
  2. 1 2 China: Further information on Possible disappearanc/Incommunicado detention/Fear for Safety Press Release from Amnesty International - February 12, 2003
  3. ↑ MEDICAL ACTION CHINA: Ill-health of Dr Wang Bingzhang, imprisoned medical doctor and activist Amnesty International Press Release - July 20, 2004
  4. ↑ UN Declares Wang Bingzhang To Be Arbitrarily Detained Decision from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - April 11, 2003
  5. ↑ Full text of US House of Representatives Resolution
  6. ↑ Full text of Canadian Parliamentary Resolution

See also

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