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The spouse of jailed Chinese rights lawyer Yu Wensheng, who has been held incommunicado since his detention some three years in the past, has lastly been allowed a 20-minute video name with him at a detention heart in Xuzhou metropolis, within the jap province of Jiangsu. In an interview with RFA’s Mandarin Service, Xu Yan describes the assembly and calls on the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to deal with her husband extra humanely, together with permitting him to serve the remainder of his sentence for “incitement to subvert state power” nearer to the household residence:
RFA: How did you are feeling if you acquired the information that you’d get a video name after no household visits for 3 years?
Xu Yan: When the detention heart first agreed to it, it was fairly stunning, as a result of they’ve disadvantaged him of all of his authorized rights for the previous three years. Visiting ought to be a traditional a part of the authorized course of, however this was a shock. It appeared particular. Anyway, so I placed on my make-up and my smile once they advised me 2.30 p.m.
In that second after I first noticed him [onscreen], I additionally heard the police officer say that we might solely have 20 minutes. But there wasn’t time to cry about that. On the one hand, I did not wish to be seen weeping, and anyway, there wasn’t time. I used to be fearful that there won’t be a subsequent time, and I wanted to replace him on what is going on outdoors. I additionally wanted to learn how he was doing, bodily, and the circumstances he was dwelling in, in order that 20 minutes handed fairly shortly.
RFA: How did Yu Wensheng seem to you. You have talked about earlier than that his proper hand shakes, and that he suffers from toothache. How is he doing now?
Xu Yan: [Yu Wensheng] was sitting on an interrogation chair, sporting the uniform of the detention heart and sporting a masks. He has no hair: they shaved it off. It was clear that he was additionally handcuffed; that is what I noticed.
I felt dangerous, as a result of the way in which he appears to be like now’s so totally different from his earlier persona as a lawyer. He was very targeted on his skilled picture again then, and he at all times wore a go well with and tie at work. Seeing him that manner was unhappy and distressing for me.
He ought to by no means have gone to jail within the first place. He has to endure like this, be in handcuffs: that is how they deal with an harmless individual. It’s completely unacceptable, however there’s nothing I can do about it.
I came upon extra about his proper hand. Apparently he cannot write as a result of it nonetheless shakes an excessive amount of. I name on the Chinese authorities to make sure that he receives therapy for his proper hand instantly. He advised me he had three tooth extracted due to ache. I advised him I’d ask the judicial authorities to get him fitted with crowns, and get up for his rights from outdoors.
I do not know if they’ll give him crowns, however I’ll undoubtedly be advocating for that, and calling on them to deal with Yu Wensheng humanely, in accordance with the legislation.
RFA: Yu’s lawyer Lu Siwei has additionally been focused by the authorities lately. You additionally went to Sichuan two days in the past to help him. Did you inform Yu about that?
Xu Yan: I advised him that his … protection lawyer Lu Siwei needed to attend a listening to for the revocation of his lawyer’s license, and he was unhappy about that and expressed his concern for Lu’s future. I advised him it wasn’t simply his case however that he had additionally represented the 12 Hongkongers … in order that he would not really feel too responsible.
RFA: Did he say anything about life within the detention heart?
Xu Yan: One of the issues he needs to get sorted is that there is no such thing as a congee for him within the mornings. To begin with, he was solely allowed chilly water, however these days they’ve been permitting him heat water if the climate is chilly, however no congee. That’s not one thing most individuals would be capable of tolerate, nothing however chilly water [for breakfast] on a chilly day. It’s not exhausting to make congee within the morning; this can be a very fundamental humanitarian want.
RFA: Now that Yu Wensheng’s attraction has been rejected, have they mentioned which jail he shall be despatched to?
Xu Yan: He has been within the detention heart for the earlier three years … and is now attributable to be transferred to jail to serve his sentence. The subsequent matter at hand is which jail they’ll assign him to. The protection lawyer and I … are calling on the Chinese authorities to switch him to a jail in Beijing, the place he lives.
I requested Yu Wensheng [on the video call] if he knew which jail he was being transferred to. He did not know, however he additionally requested to be transferred again to a jail in Beijing.
This ought to occur as a result of it’s the place his family registration is, and in order that he can profit from household visits. They have taken him to Xuzhou, which is 1,600 kilometers away [from his home] and it means I’ve to journey [all that way] only for a 20-minute go to. That’s merciless, and it is a type of persecution for the household.
RFA: Was it an emotional assembly?
Xu Yan: He expressed his concern for me, and I advised him I liked him and that I’m ready for him and stuff like that. I spoke fairly forcefully, and I believe that cheered him up a bit; he even smiled a bit in the direction of the top. We have been each laughing after we made hearts with our palms and blew kisses.
Reported by Chen Pinjie. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
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