Retired Shanghai teacher and rights activist Gu Guoping recently went to Beijing again to uphold his rights. The “International Conscience Day Poster” he carried was confiscated and destroyed by police during a security check at the Sanban Hutong of the State Council. Gu Guoping stated, “The authorities are quite fearful and apprehensive of the International Conscience Day designated by the United Nations.”
On the afternoon of May 22, Gu Guoping’s United Nations “International Conscience Day Poster” was confiscated and destroyed during a security check at the Sanban Hutong in Beijing.
Gu Guoping told the reporter that he was searched by security personnel before entering Sanban, and they found the poster hidden in his bag. “I asked the police for the reason for confiscation, and they said the poster was too sensitive, and asked me where it came from. I said it can be found on overseas media everywhere. The fact that you fear and confiscate this poster is a blatant resistance, defamation, and disregard of the three major human rights conventions of the United Nations.”
He expressed his disbelief at their fear of this poster, finding it highly unreasonable and ironic. “Because International Conscience Day was designated by the United Nations in 2019, and it supports all political prisoners oppressed by the CCP. They see themselves as persecuting Chinese people and righteous individuals. Protecting corrupt individuals and persecuting legitimate dissenters is an act that angers both humans and gods. It violates the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and persecutes human rights, yet remains unaccountable. The CCP’s severe violation of human rights is extremely serious.”
He emphasized, “Confiscating the poster commemorating the International Conscience Day designated by the United Nations is a blatant disregard for the existence of the UN and the principles and spirit of its three major conventions. Since the CCP is a permanent member of the United Nations, it should set an example by adhering to the UN’s three major conventions. Otherwise, all member states have reasons to boycott its UN membership and expel it from such an international alliance.”
In the late afternoon on that day, Gu Guoping, who is involved in eight cases, arrived at the Supreme People’s Court in Beijing to petition and file complaints through the normal channels but was not allowed to enter. He said, “I came to the Supreme People’s Court following the normal procedure, but they did not let me in. If I have no way to petition, then I can only go to the most convenient place. Because of my serious illness, I am unable to queue for a long time to petition, so I hope our local government can understand and support me.”
On April 27, Gu Guoping attempted to enter Zhongnanhai but was taken away by the police before reaching there. He said, “I tried to break into Zhongnanhai, they felt too pressured, so they asked me to petition through normal channels. I told them that I cannot wait in line for a normal petition; my health is not good, and I don’t have the ability to queue. They said I could pay to cut in line, but I can’t climb over the barriers. So now I plan to follow their advice and petition at the State Council, and if they still do not take it seriously, then I will go back to Zhongnanhai and Xinhua Gate. This is forced upon me, I have no other options!”
During this visit to Beijing, Gu Guoping witnessed local Hebei petitioners being kidnapped at the Supreme People’s Court, stirring up all petitioners who shouted for the release of the hostages. Gu Guoping believes that this openly barbaric kidnapping behavior is appalling!
Meanwhile, many petitioners from Shanghai have also arrived in Beijing, but they were all detained by the Dongjiao Minxiang Police Station and the Fuyou Street Police Station of Beijing, and then sent back to Shanghai.
Petitioning is a legitimate means of complaint given to the people by the CCP. However, in the rights petitioning of the people, each one is intercepted and sent back, which is what Shanghai rights activist Song Jiahong described as the CCP’s double-faced reality of the petitioning regulations.