Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
Liayong Workers Charged with Subversion
Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003
Dear Supporters of the Campaign to Free the Liaoyang Workers:
We received this information this morning (Jan. 2) from Hong Kong. We are
currently discussing the character of the emergency campaign we intend to
launch on behalf of these two workers in Liaoyang (part of the Liaoyang
Four) who are now charged with subversion and, if found guilty, could face
execution. We urge you to take action in the name of your own union or
organization, as well.
We will keep you informed.
In solidarity,
Alan Benjamin
OWC
*****
Thursday, January 2, 2003
(SCMP)
Liaoyang labour activists charged with subversion; could face execution
if found guilty
By VIVIEN PIK-KWAN CHAN
Two men accused of leading massive labour protests in Liaoyang city in
March of last year have been charged with subversion and face execution if
found guilty -- a move seen as a dire warning by authorities against Lunar
New Year protests.
An official of the Liaoyang city Intermediate People's Court yesterday
said it had received prosecution documents accusing Yao Fuxin and Xiao
Yunliang of the serious charge. The court will decide on or after Saturday
when the case will be heard. The charge carries a maximum penalty of death
or life in prison.
The two were arrested in Liaoyang on March 20 last year for their alleged
role in organising demonstrations involving 30,000 workers from 20
bankrupt state-run firms. The workers denounced corrupt local officials,
complained about unpaid pensions and demanded more aid for their laid-off
colleagues. The family members of the accused men said the case had been
politicised and that the fresh charge was groundless.
Yao's wife, Guo Xiujing, said: "On March 29, Yao was originally
charged with organising an 'illegal assembly and demonstration'. Then in
early November, during the 16th party congress, he was charged with
fighting and looting. But both charges could not be supported by
evidence."
Xiao's daughter, Hui, added: "The heavy charge is aimed at silencing
other activists who dare to speak for the workers. It was an inflated
accusation which claimed that my father had colluded with other foreign
hostile forces to subvert the government."
Li Qiang, a member of the New York-based China Labour Watch, said the
timing of the subversion prosecution was aimed at suppressing year-end
protests by workers. "It's like an annual tradition for disgruntled
workers in various provinces to protest before the Lunar New Year as they
want their owed pensions and delayed welfare payments be paid before the
festival," he said.
Labour rights groups have warned of more aggressive labour movements if
authorities try to suppress protests. "Disgruntled workers may turn
underground into strong anti-government forces if they do not have a
healthy channel, such as demonstrations, to air their grievances," Mr
Li warned. He said Yao and Xiao were charged with subversion because they
had signed petitions from the banned China Democracy Party's Liaoning
branch and for their leading role in organising workers at the Tiehejin
steelmill, which formed the core of the March demonstrations.
Two other Liaoyang protest leaders, Wang Zhaoming and Pang Qingxiang, were
freed on December 20 after nine months of detention amid Sino-US human
rights talks. The court had told Wang before his December 20 release that
he would not be prosecuted, but he was re-arrested on Tuesday after he
hired a lawyer to sue authorities over his nine-month detention, according
to China Labour Watch. Wang's family yesterday said the activist had not
yet been released.