Wang Gongquan’s Arrest Prompts More People to Join Campaign to Oppose China’s Membership in UN Human Rights Council

Well-known Chinese entrepreneur and social commentator Wang Gongquan has been arrested on charges of “organizing a mob to disturb public order.” His arrest has prompted more people to join a signature campaign to oppose China’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council. Some signatories say: This is another piece of hard evidence that China is not qualified to join the UN Human Rights Council; citizens must take steps to oppose the continuing repression of civil movements by the Chinese regime.

Citizen Power for China (also known as Initiatives for China) launched a signature campaign on September 9 to oppose China joining the UN Human Rights Council. The campaign calls on the global community, in particular Chinese, Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians and others, to voice their concerns in order to promote progress on human rights in China through this UN human rights body.

As of September 13, 2013, the number of signatories has reached 801.

All 21 family members of Dr. Wang Bingzhang, the pioneer of the overseas Chinese democratic movement, have joined the growing list of signatories. The Wang family also initiated an ongoing campaign on June 26 to urge the release of Dr. Wang Bingzhang. “Behind Bars with Wang Bingzhang” activities have been going on in New York City for five days and nights, and will be continuing. We urge friends and supporters to voice their support.

The results of the signature campaign will be updated every Monday or as needed. This coming Monday we will release the names of influential individuals from all over the world who have signed on to the campaign, including those inside China who have authorized the release of their name. A public announcement of the complete list of signatories will be made ahead of the election of new members on the UN Human Rights Council at the UN Assembly in mid-November.

Dr. YANG Jianli, founder of Citizen Power for China, says “The latest increase in signatories following Wang Gongquan’s detention indicates that Chinese government repression only prompts more citizens to join the campaign. If the regime tries to put pressure on people not to sign, more people will join. The only option for the Chinese government this situation is to improve human rights in China, starting with the release of Wang Bingzhang, and other citizen movement participants who have been arrested in the past few months.” Yang called on the signatories to push the campaign as widely as possible into all walks of life by spreading the word among their circle of friends. “This is a process to develop and strengthen the power of citizens in China.” Dr. Yang emphasized.