HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH![]() Publications SLAMMING THE DOOR ON DISSENT Wang Dans Trial and the New State Security Era Vol. 8, No. 10 (C), November 1996 SUMMARY | RECOMMENDATIONS | TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY With its decision to bring Chinese dissident Wang Dan to trial on October 30 on the charge of conspiracy to subvert the government, the most serious charge in the Chinese criminal code, the Chinese government has signaled its determination to deny freedom of speech and association to any citizen daring publicly to raise fundamental criticisms of government policy. The charge sends a message to Chinas dissidents that the courts will no longer draw a distinction between political speech or writing on the one hand and concrete action on the other: both levels of dissent are henceforth to be indiscriminately treated as endangering state security. It casts serious doubt on the commitment of top Chinese officials to the vaunted reform of the countrys legal system. And it shows conclusively that Western mantras about economic growth producing political liberalization notwithstanding, Chinese leaders are growing increasingly intolerant of dissent. In addition, by holding Wang Dans trial just weeks before the visit to Beijing of U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher and just weeks after visits of German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, Beijing has chosen to disregard international expressions of concern over its human rights record. Human Rights Watch/Asia calls on the Chinese government to release Wang Dan and drop all charges against him. The government should also permit international observers, from the diplomatic community, the press corps and international legal and human rights organizations, to attend the trial in Beijing Intermediate Court No.1. RECOMMENDATIONS If Wang Dan is found guilty as charged, the international community must not stay silent: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() TABLE OF CONTENTS I. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS II. BACKGROUND TO THE CASE III. THE STATES CASE AGAINST WANG DAN IV. MANUFACTURED QUOTATIONS V. DANGEROUS LIAISONS VI. CONCLUSIONS: A NEW LOOK FOR CHINAS LAWS ON DISSENT VII. APPENDIX I(a): BILL OF INDICTMENT AGAINST WANG DAN VIII. APPENDIX I(b): APPLICABLE LEGAL STATUTES Human Rights Watch November 1996 Vol. 8, No. 10 (C) To order the full text of this report click HERE. ![]() For more Human Rights Watch reports on China click HERE. ![]() To return to the list of 1996 publications click HERE. ![]() Or, to return to the index of Human Rights Watch reports click HERE. ![]() |