中国国家主席习近平,
国务院办公厅,府右街2号,
西城区,北京市,100017
中华人民共和国
对于维权律师常伯阳被拘捕事件的关注
阁下:
我代表欧盟律师协会理事会(CCBE)向您致信。欧盟律师协会理事会的会员团体包括来自欧盟和欧洲经济区各国的律师及法律团体,代表着超过一百万名欧洲律师。除了正式会员外,我们还有来自另外13个欧洲国家的律师作为附属及观察员代表。
欧盟律师协会理事会人权委员会高度重视对人权和法治的尊重。欧盟律师协会理事会尤其关心世界人权捍卫者的处境。
欧盟律师协会理事会撰写此信来表达对常伯阳先生目前处境的担忧。常伯阳先生是一名人权律师,他帮助过许多弱势群体维权。他曾代理农民工、儿童艾滋病毒携带者的案件。2004年,他在河南成立了法律援助中心。2008年,他建立了律师志愿团来帮助因喝了"毒奶粉"而患病的幼儿家属维权。常伯阳是非政府组织亿人平的法人代表,亿人平致力于消除歧视、推动社会公平正义、以及开展社区外展项目。他同时还是亿人平创始理事会的一员。
欧盟律师协会理事会了解到在2014年5月27号,常伯阳先生以涉嫌"聚众扰乱社会公共场所秩序"被带走。当天,他收到了来自郑州市公安局二里岗分局的传唤证。随后,15名警察搜查了他的家,两台电脑、三部手机被扣押。此后,他一直被关押在郑州市公安局监所管理处第三看守所。2014年7月3日,常伯阳被正式逮捕,并得到办案单位证实。2014年7月5日,写有"对涉嫌非法经营罪的常伯阳执行逮捕"的逮捕通知书被送达至常伯阳家。 据欧盟律师协会理事会了解,常伯阳从未参与过亿人平的经营和管理或是任何的财务、税务事宜。
根据欧盟律师协会理事会的了解,常伯阳律师被拘留,与他代理于事文、陈卫等多名被拘的河南人权捍卫者有关。这些维权者因参与六四25周年纪念被刑事拘留。
自从常伯阳被拘后,他不被允许会见律师,这违被了中国刑法的相关规定。与此同时,来自全国的六十多位律师表示愿意代理常律师一案。
常伯阳律师的家人表示他们十分担忧常律师在看守所内的心理和身体状况。欧盟律师协会理事会也很关切常律师在看守所可能遭到酷刑的问题。
此外,我们也十分关注亿人平的受助对象及工作人员遭受到的骚扰,因为这极可能跟该组织正在从事的合法、和平的维权工作有关。
2014年6月29日,众多受亿人平帮助过的维权者接到了声称是亿人平工作人员的可疑电话。有些来电者称自己是郑州市公安局二里岗分局的办案人员,有些称自己是"残障人士基金会"的员工。其他人则拒绝透露自己的信息。这些来电者询问有关亿人平办理的案件的相关问题,并多次提及正被刑事拘留的常伯阳。
2014年6月17日和7月13日,警方突袭郑州亿人平办公室,并询问与常伯阳有联系的机构工作人员。2014年6月12日,亿人平在郑州市的银行账户被冻结。警方告知亿人平,账户冻结源于常伯阳被调查。警方宣传,因为维权律师常伯阳是亿人平的股东,所以亿人平的银行账户中的存款属于常伯阳的财产,因而账户可以被合法冻结。
在此背景下,欧盟律师协会理事会希望您能关注联合国关于律师作用的基本原则(1990)
第16条规定:
各国政府应确保律师(a)能够履行其所有职责而不受到恫吓、妨碍、骚扰或不适当的干涉;(b)能够在国内及国外旅行并自由的同其委托人进行磋商;(c)不会由于其按照公认的专业职责、准则和道德规范所采取的任何行动而受到或被威胁会受到起诉或行政、经济或其他制裁。
此外,第23条规定:
与其他公民一样,律师也享有言论、信仰、结社和集会的自由。特别是,他们应有权参加有关法律、司法以及促进和保护人权等问题的公开讨论,并有权加入或筹组地方的、全国的或是国际性的组织以及出席这些组织的会议。这些权利不因他们的专业而被限制,因为他们的行为是合法的,他们是合法组织的成员。律师在行使这些权利时,应始终遵照法律和公认准则及按照律师的职业道德行事。
根据上述情况,欧盟律师协会理事会促请您迅速采取有效行动,立即、无条件地释放常伯阳先生,以保障司法的独立性和完整性。欧盟律师协会理事会同时也要求中国政府采取一切必要措施,保障中国律师能在任何情况下执业时不必担心受到报复、威胁和司法骚扰。
期待您的回复。
此致,
Aldo BULGARELLI
主席
(以上为译文,请以英文原文为准)
原始链接:
http://www.ccbe.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/NTCdocument/HR_Letter_China_Chan1_1406536957.pdf
President Xi Jinping
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China
Brussels, 23 July 2014
Re: Concerns regarding the detention of Chang Boyang, a human rights lawyer
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which, through the national Bars and Law Societies of the Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area, represents more than 1 million European lawyers. In addition to membership from EU bars, it also has associate and observer representatives from a further thirteen European countries' bars.
The CCBE, through its Human Rights Committee, places great emphasis on respect for human rights and the rule of law. Chang Boyang is also a legal representative of Yirenping, an NGO that fights discrimination, promotes social justice and provides community outreach programmes. He is as well a board member of the parent Yirenping organisation.
The CCBE was informed that on 27 May 2014, Mr Chang Boyang was detained on suspicion of "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order."
According to CCBE sources, it is believed that Chang Boyang's detention relates to his legal representation of a number of detained human rights defenders in Henan province, including Yu Shiwen and Chen Wei, human rights defenders who were detained in late May 2014 after participating in an event related to the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests.
Since his detention, Chang Boyang has not been permitted to meet with his lawyers, in violation of China's Criminal Procedure Law, while over 60 lawyers from around the country have expressed their willingness to represent him.
Chang Boyang's family has voiced concern for his psychological and physical well-being in detention. The CCBE is also concerned that Chang Boyang may be subjected to torture in detention.
Furthermore, the harassment suffered by clients and staff of Yirenping is extremely concerning as it is likely connected to the organisation's legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights.
On 29 June 2014, various clients of Zhengzhou Yirenping received suspicious phone calls from callers who claimed to be staff members of Zhengzhou Yirenping. Some of the callers identified themselves as case handlers from Erligang police station in Zhengzhou city, while some stated that they were staff members of a "Disabled Persons' Foundation". Others declined to reveal their names. These callers asked questions about the cases being taken by Yirenping and repeatedly mentioned Chang Boyang, who was in administrative detention at the time.
On 17 June and 13 July 2014, police raided offices of Zhengzhou Yirenping and interrogate the NGO's staff in relation to Chang Boyang. On 12 June 2014, the organisation's bank account in Zhengzhou city was frozen, with police reportedly telling Yirenping that this was due to the investigation into Chang Boyang. Police alleged that, as the human rights defender is a shareholder in Zhengzhou Yirenping, the deposits in that bank account constitute Chang Boyang's assets, and so can be legally frozen.
In this context, the CCBE wishes to draw to your attention the following Articles of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990):
Article 16 states that:
Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economics or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.
Furthermore, Article 23 states that:
Lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the rights to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights and to join or form local, national or international organisations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organisation. In exercising these rights, lawyers shall always conduct themselves in accordance with the law and the recognised standards and ethics of the legal profession.
In view of the above, the CCBE respectfully urges you to take immediate and effective steps to urgently and unconditionally release Mr Chang Boyang, in order to preserve the independence and integrity of the administration of justice. The CCBE also asks the Chinese government to take all necessary measures to guarantee that lawyers in China are able to carry out their professional activities in all circumstances, without fear of reprisal, intimidation or judicial harassment.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Aldo BULGARELLI President
Aldo bulgarelli
Co n se i l d e s b a r r ea u x e u r op é en s – Co u n ci l of B a r s a nd Law So ci e t i es o f E u rop e
association internationale sans but lucratif - RPM Bruxelles 0.467.250.186
Rue Joseph II, 40 – 1000 Bruxelles - Belgium – Tel.+32 (0)2 234 65 10 – Fax.+32 (0)2 234 65 11/12 – E-mail ccbe@ccbe.eu – www.ccbe.eu