Wang Bingzhang (dissident)

Wang Bingzhang (Chinese: 王炳章; pinyin: Wáng Bǐngzhāng; born December 30, 1947) is a Chinese human rights activist and founder of two Chinese pro-democracy movements. He was abducted in Vietnam in June 2002 and detained by Chinese secret police. The Chinese government announced his detention in December 2002, charging him with espionage and terrorism.[1] He was sentenced to life in prison and is considered a political prisoner of China.

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Wang.

Biography

Wang Bingzhang was born on December 30, 1947,[2] in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. He graduated from Beijing Medical University and served as a doctor for eight years. In 1979, he was sponsored by the Chinese government to study abroad in McGill University, Canada where he obtained his Ph.D. degree in pathology in 1982.[3]

In 1982, Wang established China Spring, the first pro-democracy Chinese magazine overseas. The next year, he launched the "Union of Chinese Democracy Movement", Alliance for Democratic China (中国民主团结联盟) publicly denouncing the one-party rule in China. He later traveled back to China and co-founded two opposition parties, the Chinese Freedom Democracy Party and Chinese Democracy Justice Party in 1989 and 1998, respectively. The latter led to his arrest in China. He was expelled from the country, but was not sentenced.[3] In early 2002, Wang was in Thailand where Royal Thai Police investigated him at the request of the Communist Party of China. Finding no evidence against him and fearing for his safety, Dr. Wang was urged to leave the country.

In June 2002, Wang went to Vietnam with Yue Wu and Zhang Qi where they were seized by Chinese secret agents. In December 2002, the Chinese government announced his arrest after six months in custody.[4]

In February 2003, Wang was sentenced to life in prison, on charges of espionage and terrorism. His trial was closed to the public and lasted for one day. He is imprisoned in the Shaoguan Prison.

In March 2006, Wang was punished for misbehaving when he went hunger strike to plead for release to pay a final respect to his father at his funeral; but he was handcuffed by and locked with a jail guard in his jail cell. This resulted in prolonged punishment. Visitation rights were restored in November 2006. According to Dr. Bing Wu Wang, Wang's younger brother, his physical health had deteriorated rapidly since the last visitation. This was due, according to Wang, to a new prison warden who served much lower food quality, harsher physical abuse and intense political study sessions.[5]

Wang Bingzhang is a loyal Christian. In Nov. 2017, the 1st edition of the book written by Wang Bingzhang during his time as a political prisoner was published. The book is about decoding the Bible. The publication ceremony was at the Bible Museum in Washington DC on the 19th of November.

Various international organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Worldrights, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, etc., have voiced their opposition to Dr. Wang's imprisonment, saying China is arbitrarily detaining him.[6] The United States and Canadian legislatures have both passed legislative bills in support of Wang and in denunciation of the CPC's actions.[7][8]

See also

Notes
  1. "Wang Bingzhang: Political Dissident Still Imprisoned by China". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 6, 2017.
  2. "Wang Bingzhang et al. v. China, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention". University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. May 9, 2003.
  3. An Introduction Of Dr. Wangbingzhang
  4. China: Further information on Possible disappearance/Incommunicado detention/Fear for Safety Press Release from Amnesty International - February 12, 2003
  5. Medical Action China: Ill-health of Dr Wang Bingzhang, imprisoned medical doctor and activist Amnesty International Press Release – July 20, 2004
  6. UN Declares Wang Bingzhang To Be Arbitrarily Detained Decision from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - April 11, 2003
  7. Full text of US House of Representatives Resolution
  8. Full text of Canadian Parliamentary Resolution
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