During the visit of European Union President Von der Leyen to China, 7 Shanghai citizens participated in hanging banners calling for attention to the dire human rights situation in China. Of the 7 citizens, 2 are known to have been detained, 1 is on bail, and 1 has been taken to the Changxing Island black prison for stabilization and control.
Von der Leyen visited China on July 24, and on the 23rd, Shanghai residents and visitors Guo Guoping, Yu Zhonghuan, Liu Dongbao, Hu Jianguo, Yang Yonglan, Liu Dadi, and Cui Shiyingzi (daughter of Yu Zhonghuan) hung banners with the words “Calling for attention to the dire human rights situation in China,” took photos, and uploaded them to the internet.
For the past three days, the police have been making phone calls, summoning for questioning, arresting, and detaining individuals. Currently, it is known that 2 people have been detained, 1 is in the black prison, and 1 is on bail pending trial.
Retired Shanghai University teacher Guo Guoping told a reporter, “At 9 am this morning (27th), the police station in the area where Yang Yonglan resides wanted to take her to the black prison on Changxing Island in Chongming District for stabilization and control. Hu Jianguo came early to show his support to Yang Yonglan, and there were six or seven plainclothes national security personnel and police officers at the scene.”
“One of the police officers recognized Hu Jianguo and told him, ‘The leadership above has instructed that two of you have been detained this time.’ They were possibly referring to the missing Yu Zhonghuan and Liu Dongbao.”
“Yang Yonglan was taken by three plainclothes national security personnel to the police station in Changxing Island in Chongming District for questioning. The police asked her some questions: ‘Who organized the hanging of the banner? Who wrote the slogans? Who took the photo? Who posted it online?’ Afterwards, Yang Yonglan and her mother were taken to a hotel on Changxing Island (black prison) for detention.”
Hu Jianguo was also taken by two police officers to the police station in the area for questioning, but he did not answer any questions and did not sign the record. Hu Jianguo has now safely returned home.
On July 26, Guo Guoping, Yu Zhonghuan, Liu Dongbao, and Liu Dadi were summoned to the police station for questioning. After the questioning, Liu Dadi safely returned home, while Yu Zhonghuan and Liu Dongbao had no news until the evening. Guo Guoping, after the questioning, was put on bail pending trial.
Late in the evening on July 26, Liu Dongbao’s sister went to the Shimen Second Road police station in Jing’an District to inquire about Liu Dongbao’s situation but did not receive any information or detainment notice.
Throughout the night, Guo Guoping and Shanghai visitors tried to call Yu Zhonghuan, but were unable to reach them.
Song Jiahong, the publisher of the “Shanghai Black Prison List,” stated that after hearing that Liu Dongbao and Yu Zhonghuan had been taken away by the police and lost contact, he also called them but either no one answered the phone or there was a temporary connection failure, indicating a prelude to being missing.
Song Jiahong said, “Yu Zhonghuan and Liu Dongbao were taken away by the local police station. If it is following the procedures for handling public security cases, then according to relevant provisions of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law, the longest time for police to question and verify someone is 24 hours. By the afternoon, if there is no exact information, it can be assumed that they have been detained or put in the black prison.”
He expressed confusion about why the police intervened in maintaining stability at the black prison. This violates several provisions of the Police Law. “One of the most serious is Article 22 ‘Prohibited Acts’: illegal deprivation, restriction of others’ personal freedom, illegal search of others’ bodies, belongings, residences, or places. This ‘Prohibited Acts’ are absolute and non-negotiable, it’s the bottom line for the police, but the aforementioned police have crossed the line.”
He stated, “The police are using trivial matters as a pretext openly participating in the black prison, heading down the dangerous path of duty reversal, right and wrong reversal, and reality distortion. Their involvement in the black prison indicates that they are acting unlawfully and criminally, damaging the country’s international image!”