Case History: He Xiaobo
On 7 April 2016 human rights defender Mr He Xiaobo was released on bail after over four months in custody in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. The workers' rights campaigner had been detained on 3 December 2015 along with a number of colleagues and on 8 January he was formally charged with 'embezzlement'. Two other human rights defenders detained at that time, Messrs Zeng Feiyang and Meng Han remain in detention and are facing charges of "gathering a crowd to disrupt social order".
He Xiaobo runs Nanfeiyan Social Work Service Centre, an NGO campaigning for compensation on behalf of workers who have been injured during the course of their work. The centre's registration was reportedly rescinded earlier this year.
On 7 April 2016 human rights defender Mr He Xiaobo was released on bail after over four months in custody in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. The workers' rights campaigner had been detained on 3 December 2015 along with a number of colleagues and on 8 January he was formally charged with 'embezzlement'. Two other human rights defenders detained at that time, Messrs Zeng Feiyang and Meng Han remain in detention and are facing charges of "gathering a crowd to disrupt social order".
He Xiaobo runs Nanfeiyan Social Work Service Centre, an NGO campaigning for compensation on behalf of workers who have been injured during the course of their work. The centre's registration was rescinded in 2015.
While Front Line Defenders welcomes the release on bail of He Xiaobo, it remains concerned at the continued detention of Zeng Feiyang and Meng Han, who it believes are being targeted as a direct result of their legitimate work in the defence of workers' rights.
On 8 January 2016, human rights defenders Mr Zeng Feiyang, Mr He Xiaobo and Ms Zhu Xiaomei were formally arrested, following their detention on 3 December 2015.
Zeng Feiyang and Zhu Xiaomei were reportedly charged with 'gathering a crowd to disturb social order', while He Xiaobo was charged with 'embezzlement'. A fourth human rights defender, Mr Meng Han, was also charged with 'gathering a crowd to disturb social order'. Mr Deng Xiaoming, who was detained at the same time as Zeng Feiyang, He Xiaobo and Zhu Xiaomei, has reportedly been released. There is no further information regarding the situation of Mr Peng Jiayong, who was also detained on 3 December 2015. The formal arrest of the four human rights defenders indicates a strong likelihood that they will be brought to trial.
All of the above-mentioned individuals are workers rights defenders.
On 3 December 2015, human rights defenders Messrs Zeng Feiyang, He Xiaobo, Peng Jiayong, Deng Xiaoming and Ms Zhu Xiaomei were detained in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
All five have been active in the province's labour rights movement, have organised workers and negotiated with employers on their behalves.
On 3 December Zeng Feiyang and Zhu Xiaomei were detained by police in Biyun district, Guangzhou on suspicion of 'gathering a crowd to disturb social order'. Zhu Xiaomei was taken away following a raid on her house. That same day, He Xiaobo was reportedly detained on allegations of 'embezzlement'. His home was then searched and a number of electronic devices and materials were confiscated. Peng Jiayong and Deng Xiaoming were also detained on 3 December although it is unclear on what grounds they are being held. It has been reported that all five have been denied access to lawyers. Zeng Feiyang and Zhu Xiaomei are being held in Guangzhou Number One Detention Centre in Baiyun district, while He Xiaobo is being held in Nanhai district. It is unknown where Peng Jiayong and Deng Xiaoming are detained.
This latest crackdown on workers' rights NGOs follows a sustained campaign against human rights defenders and civil society in China since the beginning of the summer. Front Line Defenders expresses its grave concern at the detentions of Zeng Feiyang, He Xiaobo, Peng Jiayong, Deng Xiaoming and Zhu Xiaomei, and believes the detentions are solely as a result of their peaceful and legitimate activities in defence of workers' rights.
