Participating in a casual gathering with human rights activists, Zhang Wenhe was abducted on the street by Chinese national security agents in Beijing earlier this week. Witnesses called the incident “a gang abduction” as Zhang was accosted by a group of eight agents.
Chinese human right activists have observed that with the approach of both the 17th National Congress of the Central Party Committee and Olympic Games, Beijing has steadily ramped up its watch on dissidents. Zhang’s abduction in broad daylight, they say, is yet more proof of the CCP’s continued violation of human rights. These activists urge the international community and the International Olympic Committee to pay close attention to China’s worsening human rights situation. “Human rights and democracy but no bloody Fascist Olympics,” the group of activists declared in unison.
Zhang was released around 6 p.m. on September 12. He explained that the gathering for which he was arrested was merely a celebration of China’s Mid-Autumn Festival and a chance to bid farewell to a friend who would soon travel abroad. “But it was not allowed by the authorities,” he said. National security agents not only abducted Zhang by force, claiming he organized an “illegal assembly,” but also verbally insulted him. According to Zhang, agents threatened him, saying that if he got involved in any human rights activities, “he would be sent to a mental hospital or sent to prison and tortured by prisoners.”
Zhang believes that his arrest was part of a large-scale effort in Beijing to stop human rights activists and political dissidents and suppress their agenda.
“We will not flinch nor waver. We will keep going. We will tell more people to stand up for their rights. We want democracy and human rights, not bloody Fascist Olympics,” Zhang declared.
One of Zhang’s fellow activists, Qi Zhiyong, said that before his arrest, he and Zhang were simply waiting for the arrival of other group members. Suddenly, a car stopped in front of them and about eight agents jumped out. They grabbed Zhang by the neck and arms and forcefully dragged him into the car.
“The authorities are in a state of extreme nervousness—they are on the verge of a mental breakdown,” said fellow activist Hu Jia. “[Agents] became panicked simply at the sight of people gathering for a meal. I don’t know what they are so afraid of!”
According to Hu, after September 7, Beijing authorities have increased the number of national security agents monitoring him to fourteen, including six staff members from Tongzhou County National Security Office and eight from the city’s General National Security Team. The night before, Hu said one of the agents climbed to the 4th floor and slept outside his door.
Another fellow activist, Liu Fenggang, explained that Beijing democratic activists, human rights activists, and religious groups have long been treated unfairly. He mentioned that since his release from detention in February, police have harassed, monitored and limited his freedom, and were often found right outside his door.
Liu calls on the international society to take measures to stop the tyranny of the Chinese Communist regime and condemn its behavior. “Especially prior to the Olympic games, the international community should make a greater effort to stop the CCP’s evil deeds,” he commented
Hu repeated the mantra of his fellow political dissidents, “No human rights, no Olympics. We strive for democracy and human rights. We refuse Bloody Harvest Games.”
