HRN has signed the joint statement: NGOs and Lawyers Groups Call on Governments & Lao Authorities to Ensure the Immediate Release of Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Lu Siwei

August 8, 2023
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HRN has signed the joint statement “NGOs and Lawyers Groups Call on Governments & Lao Authorities to Ensure the Immediate Release of Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Lu Siwei A Joint Statement”.

The text of the statement is below and available here in pdf format: (FIN) 20230805 Joint Statement on LSW (ENG_CHI).pdf

 

 

Please scroll down for the Chinese translation
（中譯本隨後）

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NGOs and Lawyers Groups Call on Governments & Lao Authorities to
Ensure the Immediate Release of Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Lu Siwei

A Joint Statement

For Immediate Release

(1 August 2023) Lao authorities have reportedly arrested and detained well-known Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei since 28 July 2023. We are gravely concerned that he is at serious risk of forced repatriation to China where he faces the high likelihood of torture and other ill-treatment.

Southeast Asian governments have frequently been pressured into forcibly returning vulnerable individuals back to China, where they have faced arbitrary detention, unfair trials, torture, enforced disappearances, and other ill-treatment. Our organizations have documented numerous cases, ranging from the 2009 forced return of Uyghurs from Cambodia to the August 2022 disappearance of Chinese democracy activist Dong Guangping from Vietnam into Chinese custody. Gui Minhai, a bookseller, was disappeared in Thailand in 2015 only to resurface in China without his passport. These individuals are effectively disappeared for extended periods, with family members and colleagues unable to obtain information until months or years after.

We urge third party governments to:

  1. Ask Lao authorities to immediately halt Lu Siwei’s repatriation and to move quickly to ensure he has access to the relevant UN authorities and a lawyer of his choice; and,
  2. Publicly call on Chinese authorities to drop any potential charges against Lu Siwei.

By handing Lu Siwei over to the Chinese authorities, the Lao government would be putting Lu Siwei at grave risk of torture and inhuman treatment. UN rights experts have found that the Chinese government frequently subjects rights defenders and lawyers to torture and inhuman treatment. [1]Under international customary law and as a state party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) since September 2012, the Lao PDR government has a non-refoulement obligation as stipulated in Article 3 of the CAT not to return a person to a state where they are at high likelihood of being subjected to torture.

We urge the Lao government to:

  1. Halt all processes of repatriation for Lu Siwei and release him immediately according to its international human rights obligations;
  2. Arrange for him to meet with the relevant UN authorities and a lawyer of his own choosing;
  3. Allow him to meet with diplomats from the United States and other countries, as needed, to help him resume his journey to reunite with his family currently in the United States; and
  4. Pending the above, to disclose his whereabouts and ensure his personal safety as well as his physical and mental well-being.

Lu Siwei is a renowned rights defender and lawyer in China, advocating for vulnerable groups and representing numerous political dissidents. As the Chinese authorities have become increasingly intolerant of independent rights advocacy, they have targeted Lu with intimidation and harassment, including disbarment in January 2021 for online speech that allegedly “endangered national security”. Lu Siwei was also physically attacked while traveling to the hearing for his disbarment. Since then, Lu has been closely monitored by the Chinese authorities and subject to an exit ban since May 2021. It is understood that Lu was in Laos en route to joining his family in the United States.

Undersigned, in alphabetical order

  1. ALTSEAN-Burma
  2. Amnesty International
  3. ARTICLE 19
  4. Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
  5. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
  6. Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales
  7. Bytes For All, Pakistan
  8. Campaign For Uyghurs
  9. Chicago Solidarity with Hong Kong
  10. ChinaAid
  11. China Change
  12. Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD)
  13. Civic Initiatives
  14. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
  15. Comité pour la Liberté à Hong-Kong
  16. Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation
  17. Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt (CADTM)
  18. CSW
  19. Defense without Borders-Solidarity Lawyers (DSF-AS)
  20. Exile Hub, Thailand, Myanmar
  21. FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
  22. Focus on the Global South
  23. Foundation for Media Alternatives
  24. Free Expression Myanmar
  25. Freedom Seekers International
  26. Freiheit für Hongkong e.V.
  27. Fresh Eyes, United Kingdom
  28. Front Line Defenders
  29. Georgetown Center for Asian Law
  30. Gill H. Boehringer, Professor, Chair, Australian Branch, IAPL
  31. Girl Up Southeast Asia
  32. Hong Kong Aid
  33. Hong Kong Democracy Council
  34. Hong Kong Watch
  35. Hongkonger in Deutschland e.V.
  36. Human Rights in China
  37. Human Rights Now
  38. Human Rights Online Philippines (HRonlinePH)
  39. Human Rights Watch
  40. Humanitarian China
  41. HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement
  42. ILGA Asia
  43. Indonesia Save Uyghur
  44. Innovation for Change
  45. Innovation for Change-East Asia
  46. Innovation for Change South Asia
  47. International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers
  48. International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
  49. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
  50. International Society for Human Rights
  51. International Tibet Network Secretariat
  52. Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan
  53. Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance (JHKDA)
  54. Judicial Reform Foundation
  55. Lady Liberty Hong Kong (LLHK)
  56. Lamp of Liberty
  57. Lawyers for Lawyers
  58. Manushya Foundation
  59. Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
  60. New School for Democracy Association
  61. New Yorkers Supporting Hong Kong (NY4HK)
  62. Open Net (Korea)
  63. pk
  64. PEN America
  65. Public Virtue Research Institute
  66. Safeguard Defenders
  67. Saskatchewan stands with Hong Kong
  68. Social Innovations Advisory
  69. Society of Young Social Innovators (SYSI)
  70. Solidarité Chine
  71. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
  72. Taipei Bar Association Human Rights Committee
  73. Taiwan Bar Association Human Rights Protection Committee
  74. Taiwan Support China Human Rights Lawyers Network
  75. Texans Supporting Hong Kong (TX4HK)
  76. The Rights Practice
  77. Tibet Initiative Deutschland e.V.
  78. Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
  79. 29 Principles
  80. Uyghur Human Rights Project
  81. Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
  82. Wang Dan, Dialogue China
  83. We The Hongkongers
  84. Winnipeg Hong Kong Concern
  85. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
  86. Young Leadership for Social Change Network
  87. Re-water CIC

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(中譯本/Chinese Translation)

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人權及律師團體呼籲各國政府和老撾（寮國）政府確保

中國人權律師盧思位被立即釋放

聯合聲明

供立即發布

（2023年8月1日）據報導，老撾（寮國）政府自 2023 年 7 月 28 日起逮捕並拘留了著名中國人權律師盧思位。我們對盧律師面臨被強制遣返中國，並很可能因而受到酷刑和其他虐待，表示嚴重關切。

東南亞多國經常迫於壓力而將弱勢群體強行遣返中國，被遣返者因此面臨任意拘留、不公平審判、酷刑和其他虐待等風險。各地人權團體有眾多相關紀錄，從 2009 年維吾爾人從柬埔寨被強制遣返，到 2022 年 8 月中國民主活動家董廣平在越南失蹤，後被發現遭受中國拘留。書商桂民海2015年在泰國失蹤，其後在中國露面，護照卻被政府扣留。事實上這些人都經歷了長時間的強迫失蹤，其家人和同事往往要在數月甚或多年後才能取得他們的消息。

我們敦促第三方政府：

  1. 要求老撾（寮國）政府立即停止遣返盧思位，並迅速採取行動，確保他能夠接觸聯合國人員和他選擇的律師；並
  2. 公開呼籲中國政府撤銷針對盧思位的任何可能指控。

老撾（寮國）政府一旦將盧思位移交給中國政府，即意味將盧置於遭受酷刑和非人道待遇的嚴重風險。聯合國人權專家已多次指出，中國政府經常對人權捍衛者和律師施以酷刑和非人道待遇。[2]

根據國際習慣法，並自 2012 年 9 月起作為聯合國《禁止酷刑及其他殘忍不人道或有辱人格之待遇或處罰公約》（CAT） 締約國，老撾（寮國）人民民主共和國政府負有《禁止酷刑公約》第 3 條規定的不驅回義務，不將任何人遣返至他極有可能遭受酷刑的國家。

我們敦促老撾（寮國）政府：

  1. 根據國際人權義務，立即中止遣返盧思位的一切程序並釋放他；
  2. 安排他會見聯合國有關官員和他自己選擇的律師；
  3. 根據需要允許他會見美國和其他國家的外交官員，幫助他繼續前往美國與家人團聚的旅程；以及
  4. 在上述情況得到實踐之前，公開其所在，並確保其人身安全和身心健康。

盧思位是中國著名的人權律師和捍衛者，為弱勢群體發聲，並曾代理眾多政治異見人士案件。中國政府近年對權利倡導容忍度愈來愈低，他們對盧律師進行恐嚇和騷擾，包括 2021 年 1 月以其網路言論「涉嫌危害國家安全」為藉口，撤銷其律師資格；盧律師更在前往相關聽證會途中，遭受襲擊。此後，盧思位一直受到中國政府密切監控，並自2021年5月起被禁制出境。

據了解，盧思位律師此次過境老撾（寮國），是要前往美國與家人團聚。

聯署團體（依英文名字母排序）

  1. ALTSEAN-Burma
  2. Amnesty International 國際特赦組織
  3. ARTICLE 19
  4. Asia Democracy Network (ADN) 亞洲民主網絡
  5. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 亞洲人權與發展論壇
  6. Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales
  7. Bytes For All, Pakistan
  8. Campaign For Uyghurs 維吾爾運動
  9. Chicago Solidarity with Hong Kong
  10. ChinaAid 對華援助協會
  11. China Change 改變中國
  12. Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) 中國人權捍衛者
  13. Civic Initiatives
  14. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation 公民參與世界聯盟
  15. Comité pour la Liberté à Hong-Kong
  16. Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation 香港自由委員會基金
  17. Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt (CADTM) 廢除非法債務委員會
  18. CSW
  19. Defense without Borders-Solidarity Lawyers (DSF-AS)
  20. Exile Hub, Thailand, Myanmar
  21. FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders保護人權捍衛者觀察組織，國際人權聯盟
  22. Focus on the Global South
  23. Foundation for Media Alternatives
  24. Free Expression Myanmar 緬甸言論自由
  25. Freedom Seekers International
  26. Freiheit für Hongkong e.V. 自由香港
  27. Fresh Eyes, United Kingdom
  28. Front Line Defenders 前線衛士
  29. Georgetown Center for Asian Law 喬治城大學法學院亞洲法中心
  30. Gill H. Boehringer, Professor, Chair, Australian Branch, IAPL
  31. Girl Up Southeast Asia
  32. Hong Kong Aid
  33. Hong Kong Democracy Council
  34. Hong Kong Watch 香港監察
  35. Hongkonger in Deutschland e.V. 香港人在德國協會
  36. Human Rights in China 中國人權
  37. Human Rights Now
  38. Human Rights Online Philippines (HRonlinePH)
  39. Human Rights Watch 人權觀察
  40. Humanitarian China 人道中國
  41. HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement
  42. ILGA Asia
  43. Indonesia Save Uyghur
  44. Innovation for Change
  45. Innovation for Change – East Asia
  46. Innovation for Change – South Asia
  47. International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers 國際人民律師協會
  48. International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
  49. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) 國際人權服務社
  50. International Society for Human Rights國際人權協會
  51. International Tibet Network Secretariat 國際西藏網路秘書處
  52. Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan
  53. Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance (JHKDA)
  54. Judicial Reform Foundation 財團法人民間司法改革基金會
  55. Lady Liberty Hong Kong (LLHK)
  56. Lamp of Liberty
  57. Lawyers for Lawyers
  58. Manushya Foundation 馬努西亞基金會
  59. Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
  60. New School for Democracy Association 社團法人華人民主書院協會
  61. New Yorkers Supporting Hog Kong (NY4HK)
  62. Open Net (Korea)
  63. pk
  64. PEN America 美國筆會
  65. Public Virtue Research Institute
  66. Safeguard Defenders 保護衛士
  67. Saskatchewan stands with Hong Kong
  68. Social Innovations Advisory
  69. Society of Young Social Innovators (SYSI)
  70. Solidarité Chine
  71. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
  72. Taipei Bar Association Human Rights Committee 台北律師公會人權委員會
  73. Taiwan Bar Association Human Rights Protection Committee 全國律師聯合會人權保護委員會
  74. Taiwan Support China Human Rights Lawyers Network 臺灣聲援中國人權律師網絡
  75. The Rights Practice
  76. Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy 西藏人權與民主中心
  77. Tibet Initiative Deutschland e.V. 德國西藏倡議
  78. Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
  79. 29 Principles 29原則
  80. Uyghur Human Rights Project 維吾爾人權項目
  81. Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
  82. Wang Dan, Dialogue China 對話中國
  83. We The Hongkongers 我們是香港人
  84. Winnipeg Hong Kong Concern
  85. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
  86. Young Leadership for Social Change Network
  87. Re-water CIC

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[1] E/C.12/CHN/CO/3, CESCR Concluding observations on the third periodic report of China, including Hong Kong, China, and Macao, China, 2 March 2023; and CAT/C/CHN/CO/5, CAT Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of China, 3 February 2016.

[2] E/C.12/CHN/CO/3, 經濟、社會及文化權利委員會關於中國（包括中國香港和中國澳門）第三次定期報告的結論性意見，2023年3月22日；CAT/C/CHN/CO/5 禁止酷刑委員會 關於中國第五次定期報告的結論性意見，2016年2月3日。

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