(Clearwisdom.net) The international community is paying attention to the arrest of Ms. Liang Wenjian and Mr. Lin Zhiyong, sister and brother-in-law of British citizen Jane Liang, by the “610 Office” in Guangzhou, China. On March 20, 2007, Amnesty International issued a global urgent call for action regarding the arrest of eight Falun Gong practitioners, including Ms. Liang Wenjian and her husband. The letter called for the Chinese Communist Party to immediately and unconditionally release them. A Member of the European Parliament wrote the Chinese government to express concerns.

Amnesty International issued an urgent letter headed “Fear of torture or ill-treatment” (AI Index: ASA 17/014/2007). It listed eight Falun Gong practitioners who need urgent rescue. They are Ms. Liang Wenjian, her husband Mr. Lin Zhiyong, Ms. Li Dongmei, Wang He (sex unknown), Wu Jiangyan (sex unknown), and three others (names unknown).

The letter says, in part, “All eight were detained on 10 February by around 10 plainclothes police officers for participating in a gathering at the home of Liang Wenjian and Lin Zhiyong. Seven of the eight Falun Gong practitioners listed above have reportedly been assigned to two years of Re-education through Labor (RTL), a form of administrative detention imposed without charge, trial or judicial review, in connection with their Falun Gong activities. One, an elderly woman (unnamed), has reportedly been sentenced to one-and-half-years. They are reportedly being held at Panyu Detention Center in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, awaiting transfer to an RTL facility. Their families have not been officially informed and have not been allowed to meet with them.”

Fear of torture or ill-treatment

Chen Xin, an officer with Amnesty International in the Asia and the Pacific Region, was interviewed by The Epoch Times and expressed concerns. She pointed out that the families were not officially informed when the eight Falun Gong practitioners were detained. They had only heard about the RTL assignments. However, RTL was in violation of the international principle of fair trial and freedom. Ms. Chen said that Amnesty International was strongly opposed to the RTL system in the first place. It deprives people of their personal freedom without any legal process. As a punishment measure, it is in violation of international human rights. In addition, Amnesty International was very concerned about religious freedom. Many procedures violate the international principle of fair trial and freedom. For all these reasons, Amnesty International issued an urgent call to rescue these people.

The letter said the eight Falun Gong practitioners were in “fear of torture and ill-treatment.” “Liang Wenjian had previously been assigned to RTL at the Guangzhou Chaitou Xiaodao RTL facility from February 2000 to April 2001. During this time, she reportedly suffered torture and ill-treatment, which included being hung by her wrists so that her feet could barely touch the ground for two hours for doing the Falun Gong exercises in detention. She was also reportedly required to work up to 14 hours a day making artificial flowers.”

Ms. Chen said, “Liang Wenjian has suffered torture before. And the trials for the eight people were not open at all. In cases like these, Amnesty International is very worried they will be subjected to more torture.”

A member of the European Parliament has taken action

Ms. Liang Wenjian is the sister of British citizen Jane Liang. Wenjian was sent for two years of forced labor three years ago. Jane Liang tried to rescue her sister from overseas. Many British media reported on this case. Member of the European Parliament Roger Helmer wrote to the Chinese Ambassador in Brussels and London to express concerns over the arrests of Liang Wenjian and her husband.