致:
國家主席胡錦濤先生
中華人民共和國北京市中南海國家主席辦公室
國務院總理溫家寶先生
中華人民共和國北京市西城區文津街11號100800
公安部部長周永康先生
中華人民共和國北京市東長安街14號100741
最高人民檢察院檢察長賈春旺先生
中華人民共和國北京市東城區北河沿大街147號 100726
要求立即釋放維權人士楊茂東（郭飛雄）
尊敬的胡主席、溫總理、周部長及賈檢察長：
我們謹此來函對楊茂東（郭飛雄）先生的情況表示深切關注。去年九月十四日，廣州公安以楊先生出版書籍「涉嫌非法經營罪」為由把他拘捕，他的案件於今年一月初被轉送至廣州市天河區人民檢察院，及後檢察院以證據不足為由把案件發還廣州市公安局補充偵查。直至一月二十日，廣州市公安局突然把他送至遼寧省瀋陽作進一步拘留和調查。
雖然已作了長時間的調查，檢察院發現沒有找到足夠的證據起訴楊先生，但警方仍把他拘留，這是違反了《中華人民共和國刑事訴訟法》第六十五條： 「公安機關對於被拘留的人，應當在拘留後的二十四小時以內進行訊問。在發現不應當拘留的時候，必須立即釋放，發給釋放證明。對需要逮捕而證據還不充足的，可以取保候審或者監視居住。」
而且，據報導指楊先生在被問話的過程中被毆打和虐待。警方的做法違反了《中華人民共和國刑事訴訟法》第四十三條：「審判人員、檢察人員、偵查人員必須依照法定程序，收集能夠證實犯罪嫌疑人、被告人有罪或者無罪、犯罪情節輕重的各種證據，嚴禁刑訊逼供和以威脅、引誘、欺騙以及其他非法的方法收集證據。必須保證一切與案件有關或者瞭解案情的公民，有客觀地充分地提供證據的條件，除特殊情況外，並且可以吸收他們協助調查。」
楊先生是一位國內外備受尊敬的法律權益工作者，他在二○○五年為廣東番禺太石村村民提供法律協助指控當地懷疑貪污的官員而成名，但他卻因此而被逮捕超過三個月，其後，他於去年不斷受到不明人士的襲擊和騷擾。楊先生過去的遭遇和今天所面對的壓迫一直受到國際社會的密切關注。
我們要求並懇切希望有關當局調查楊先生的個案，並確保公平以及乎合正確司法程序的調查。若警方至今仍沒有掌握足夠的證據證明他確曾犯罪，應立即釋放楊先生及停止侵犯他的權利。
中國明年舉行奧運會，這是一件可以提升我國國際聲望和地位的一件盛事。但國際社會在支持中國舉辦奧運的同時，亦希望這個象徵世界和平合作的盛事能在一個尊重人權自由的國家舉行。故我們相信釋放如楊先生這樣的維權人士將能履行中國申辦奧運會時對改善人權的承諾。
此致
中國維權律師關注組主席何俊仁 敬上
二○○七年二月二十八日
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Albert Ho, Chairman of China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group, Writes to President Hu Jintao Demanding Immediate Release of Guo Feixiong
28 February 2007
President Hu Jintao
President's Office
Zhongnaihai
Beijing
People's Republic of China
Premier Wen Jiabao
Guowuyuan
11 Wenjinjie
Xicheng District, Beijing 100800
People's Republic of China
Zhou Yongkang
Minister of Public Security
14 Dong Chang'anjie
Dongcheng District, Beijing 100741
People's Republic of China
Jia Chunwang
Procurator-general
Supreme People's Procuratorate
147 Beiheyan Dajie
Dongcheng District, Beijing 100726
People's Republic of China
Re: Immediately release legal rights activist Yang Maodong (Guo Feixiong)
Dear President Hu, Premier Wen, Minister Zhou and Procurator-General Jia,
We are writing to express our deep concern about the situation of human rights activist Yang Maodong, better known as Guo Feixiong ("Mr. Yang").
Mr. Yang was arrested by the Guangzhou police on 14 September 2006. He was accused of "illegal business operations" for publishing books. His case was transferred by the police to the Tianhe District Procuratorate in Guangzhou in early January 2007. The Procuratorate found that there was insufficient evidence to support any criminal charge so Mr. Yang's case was transferred back to the police for further investigation. However, according to news reports, on 20 January, the Guangzhou City Public Security Bureau suddenly and inexplicitly sent him to Shenyang in northeastern China for detention and further investigation.
Despite a lengthy investigation, the Procuratorate found that there was insufficient evidence for the criminal charge but the police still continue to detain Mr. Yang. The police have breached Article 65 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, which states: "A public security organ shall interrogate a detainee within 24 hours after detention. If it is found that the person should not have been detained, he must be immediately released and issued a release certificate. If the public security organ finds it necessary to arrest a detainee when sufficient evidence is still lacking, it may allow the detainee to obtain a guarantor pending trial or place him under residential surveillance."
In addition, Mr. Yang was reportedly beaten and tortured while being interrogated by the police. The police actions have breached Article 43 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, which states: "Judges, procurators and investigators must, in accordance with the legally prescribed process, collect various kinds of evidence that can prove the criminal suspect's or defendant's guilt or innocence and the gravity of his crime. It shall be strictly forbidden to extort confessions by torture and to collect evidence by threat, enticement, deceit or other unlawful means. Conditions must be guaranteed for all citizens who are involved in a case or who have information about the circumstances of a case to objectively and fully furnish evidence and, except in special circumstances, they may be brought in to help the investigation."
Mr. Yang is a legal rights defender and is respected both in the mainland and internationally. He became famous after providing legal assistance to villagers in Taishi Village in Panyu, Guangdong Province, in regard to alleged corruption in the process of electing local officials in 2005. In so doing, Mr. Yang made use of his legal knowledge as a legal representative to advise the villagers of their legal rights. However, shortly thereafter, he was detained by the police for more than three months. He was also a victim of subsequent attacks and harassment by unidentified thugs throughout the year of 2006. Mr. Yang's experience in the past and the ill-treatment he faces today has been attracting substantial international attention.
We request, and sincerely hope, that given the insufficient evidence, Mr. Yang should be immediately released and local officials should stop harassing him.
China is going to host the Olympic Games next year. This is a big international event that can help enhance our country's prestige and status in the international community. While the international community supports China hosting the Olympic Games, they also expect that such an event, which signifies world peace and cooperation, will take place in a country that respects human rights and freedom. Therefore, we believe that releasing human rights activists like Mr. Yang will help realize our country's promise of improving human rights records.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Albert Ho Chun-yan
Chairman
China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group
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For further comments, please contact our Chairperson Albert Ho at 77700119, Vice-chairperson Emily Lau at 77703332 or Executive Secretary Patrick Poon at 28682919.