China lawyers demand access to activists detained ahead of Tiananmen anniversary
Rights lawyers demonstrate over denied access to clients detained in advance of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square military action against protesters
Around 20 lawyers gathered on Saturday in a central China’s Henan province to demand access to several activists detained ahead of the politically sensitive 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square military suppression of protesters.
Prominent rights lawyer Li Fangping said the attorneys staged an overnight protest starting on Friday outside the Zhengzhou city police bureau after authorities denied their requests for weeks to see their clients.
“We feel that the entire system for defence lawyers is facing an enormous challenge,” said Li, who was among those who protested.
Among the activists detained in Zhengzhou is the well-known lawyer Chang Boyang, who has campaigned for the rights of migrant workers, HIV patients and children poisoned in a 2008 tainted milk scandal.
Chang was detained May 27 as part of a string of prosecutions against artists, lawyers, scholars and journalists ahead of the June 4 Tiananmen anniversary amid intense government efforts to deter public commemorations.
Li said senior city police representatives in Zhengzhou met with the lawyers on Saturday afternoon and said the attorneys had to seek permission from police investigators in order to meet their clients.
