Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
New Appeal for Liayong Workers, To Be Published October 20th Worldwide
Dear Friends:
We just received the appeal below from the China Labour Bulletin
(published in Hong Kong by Han Dongfang) and the International Liaison
Committee for a Workers' International (ILC), along with a request that we
gather hundreds of signatures of U.S. trade unionists on this appeal prior
to October 18. The objective of the organizers of this campaign is to
publish this Appeal on October 20th in newspapers around the world.
The Continuations Committee of the Open World Conference has endorsed the
international campaign to free the Liaoyang Four and has been campaigning
actively for their freedom. (Initially five workers were arrested, but one
of them, Gu Baoshu, has since been released from prison, though the
charges against him have not been dropped.)
We call upon all trade union officials and activists across the United
States to endorse this appeal and to return the filled-out endorsement
coupon [following the appeal below] to us at the OWC as soon as possible.
Also, please make a financial contribution, large or small, toward the
International Campaign Fund, which will defray the cost of publishing this
appeal in newspapers around the world.
Thanks, in advance, for your support.
In solidarity,
Ed Rosario and Alan Benjamin,
Co-coordinators,
OWC Continuations Committee
********************
IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE LIAOYANG WORKERS' DELEGATES
Yao Fuxin, Pang Qingxiang, Xiao Yunliang and Wang Zhaoming
Today, October 20, marks seven months since the arrest on March 17,
2002, of the Liaoyang Four: Yao Fuxin, Pang Qingxiang, Xiao Yunliang and
Wang Zhaoming. During these seven months, the Liaoyang Four have been
under detention with no formal charges brought against them.
In September 2002, the former manager of the Ferroalloy Factory in
Liaoyang was arrested and charged with corruption. Thus, the authorities
acknowledged implicitly that the Liaoyang workers were right when in March
they began demonstrating against corruption.
According to the law of the People's Republic of China (PRC), suspects can
be detained for six and a half months at the most. This includes a
three-month investigation by the public security bureau , plus a
one-and-a-half month examination by the city's Attorney General, plus two
follow-up one-month investigations.
The maximum detention length is therefore seven months, including public
holidays.
Though they were arrested seven months ago, Yao Fuxin, Pang Qingxiang,
Xiao Yunliang and Wang Zhaoming are still in jail with no formal charges.
By Chinese law they should be released. Yao Fuxin, Pang Qingxiang, Xiao
Yunliang and Wang Zhaoming should be released immediately.
The Liaoyang Four were arrested in violation of ILO Conventions 98 and 87
, pertaining to the right to organise in the union of their choice and the
right to bargain. Their demands and grievances are legitimate.
An injury to one is an injury to all!
We, the undersigned trade unionists, from around the world, call on
the international labour movement to endorse this appeal to be addressed
to the authorities of the People's Republic of China:
Release immediately Yao Fuxin, Pang Qingxiang, Xiao Yunliang and Wang
Zhaoming!
A few weeks before the opening session of the Chinese Communist Party
Congress, by releasing those whose only crime is to have used the
traditional means of the working class to pursue their grievances, the
Chinese authorities would show -- by complying with the law of the PRC, to
their credit -- that they have chosen to follow the path of reason.
----------
APPEAL ENDORSEMENT COUPON
[ ] I endorse the Appeal to Free the Liaoyang Four.
[ ] I will send a financial contribution of $ to help defray the cost of
distributing this Appeal worldwide on October 20th.
NAME
CITY & STATE
UNION *
POSITION * (if any):
EMAIL ADDRESS
* list if for identification only
(Return to OWC at ilcinfo@earthlink.net
)
***********
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Liaoyang Four were arrested when over 10,000 workers laid off from
Feroalloy Factory, a State enterprise of the town, took to the streets on
March 11-12, 2002, to demand payment of their wage arrears.
The workers denounced the conditions in which they were laid off and
demanded that their unemployment allowances be paid. They also asked that
the managers of a steel plant stand trial for corruption.
The Liaoyang workers and their delegates were using the traditional means
of the working class to pursue their legitimate grievances.
A large campaign developed around the world at the initiative of China
Labour Bulletin (CLB) and the International Liaison Committee of Workers
and Peoples (ILC) to demand the immediate release of the Laioyang workers'
delegates.
Meanwhile the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
lodged a complaint at the ILO, and the International Federation of
Metalworkers demanded the immediate release of Yao Fuxin, Pang Qingxiang,
Xiao Yunliang and Wang Zhaoming.
In May, a delegation of the international labour movement was set up and
went to Liaoyang with no other objective than to meet the authorities and
to convey the demand for the immediate release of Yao Fuxin, Pang
Qingxiang, Xiao Yunliang and Wang Zhaoming -- a demand that had been
endorsed by thousands of trade unoinists worldwide.
Hardly had they reached the Liaoyang rail station when they were deported
from Liaoyang by the local security police and pressed to leave mainland
China.
The authorities argued that whereas visas for businessmen are available,
there are no visas for international trade unionists.
With the China/WTO agreement, international corporate privatisers can now
freely circulate in China. At the same time, however, the delegation of
trade unionists was pressed to leave Liaoyang on the spot. It is a
disgrace.
On their return to Hong Kong, at a press conference held in the premises
of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) -- affiliated with
the ICFTU -- the delegation proposed to organise an international day of
action to take place in July and to keep on fighting until the Liaoyang
Four are released.
On July 10 -- the International Day of Action for the release of the
arrested Liaoyang worker activists, sponsored by China Labour Bulletin,
the HKCTU and the ILC -- trade unions in 27 countries petitioned the local
Chinese embassies and consulates for the release of the workers'
representatives detained in Liaoyang.
Four months later they are still under detention.
On August 20, about 600 workers at the Liaoyang Ferroalloy Factory
attempted to file a lawsuit with the city Attorney General with charges
against the following:
- the public security bureau: for the arrest of four workers'
representatives (Yao Fuxin, Pang Qingxiang, Xiao Yunliang and Wang
Zhaoming) in March 2002, and abducting and assaulting another worker, Gu
Baoshu, in April;
- the court: for declaring Liaoyang Ferroalloy Factory bankrupt without
following due process;
- the city government: for unilaterally terminating the 20-year employment
contracts signed with Ferroalloy Factory workers in 1995; and
- management at Ferroalloy Factory: for dereliction of duty leading to
casualties at the workplace.
The city Attorney General, however, refused to prosecute the case on the
grounds that the accusations were not specific.
On September 29 and 30, an estimated 600 Ferroalloy workers protested
again for the release of the arrested workers. Once again, they received
no definite response from the city government.