One of the founders of the organization, Beijing-based lawyer, Mr. Teng Biao PhD, told The Epoch Times that the organization—Open Constitution Initiative—was registered as a company, and a legal research center was set up under this company. According to the regulations, no other registration with the government is required.
The Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau accuses the organization of conducting illegal activity. “On the morning of July 17, over 20 police came to the centre’s office and announced the decision to ban it. They confiscated many items in the office including computers,” said Mr. Teng.
Mr. Teng believes the regime’s real purpose is to stop the organization from helping human rights victims.
The regime also charged the organization a tax evasion penalty of 1.42 million yuan (approximately US$207,800). Beijing lawyer Mr Xu Zhiyong PhD, the organization’s legal representative, said in an internet statement: "This is not a punishment against the Open Constitution Initiative, it's a punishment against the child victims of poisoned milk, against migrant workers, and it's punishment against the thousands upon thousands of the powerless people who need help. It is a punishment utterly devoid of conscience."
Mr. Xu condemned the regime's actions, saying he would rather be locked in prison for seven years than "hand over the donations that were saved for penny by penny."
The organization started its operation in 2003, and officially registered in 2005. It states on its website, “We are committed to building a modernized China and promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in China.”
Recently, Beijing revoked the licenses of 53 lawyers, many of whom are renowned human rights activists.
Read the original article in Chinese
