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China democracy activist's partner appeals to UN over harassment China democracy activist's partner appeals to UN over harassment
(40 minutes later)
Hundreds of guests wanted to celebrate their friends' wedding day. Scores of Chinese police and security officials were equally determined to stop them.Hundreds of guests wanted to celebrate their friends' wedding day. Scores of Chinese police and security officials were equally determined to stop them.
Many of the well-wishers were halted before they even boarded trains to Hubei province. Others made it as far as the venue, where almost 100 were detained and some beaten, said the bride, Wang Xifeng. Many of the wellwishers were halted before they even boarded trains to Hubei province. Others made it as far as the venue, where almost 100 were detained and some beaten, said the bride, Wang Xifeng.
"I predicted the pressure and the threats when I chose this path, but I had never experienced it before. I am very scared," she told the Guardian."I predicted the pressure and the threats when I chose this path, but I had never experienced it before. I am very scared," she told the Guardian.
The path is marriage to a veteran democracy activist. Qin Yongmin's campaigns have repeatedly angered authorities; the 59-year-old was released from the latest of his three jail terms in late 2010, having served 12 years for subversion of state power after trying to register an independent political party.The path is marriage to a veteran democracy activist. Qin Yongmin's campaigns have repeatedly angered authorities; the 59-year-old was released from the latest of his three jail terms in late 2010, having served 12 years for subversion of state power after trying to register an independent political party.
In addition to the disruption of their wedding in Qin's hometown of Wuhan in May, said Wang, the couple have been detained twice and repeatedly harassed, are under round-the-clock surveillance and remain legally unwed, despite holding a ceremony, because authorities refuse to register them and issue a marriage certificate. In addition to the disruption of their wedding in Qin's hometown of Wuhan in May, said Wang, the couple have been detained twice and repeatedly harassed, are under round-the-clock surveillance and remain legally unwed, despite holding a ceremony, because the authorities refuse to register them and issue a marriage certificate.
Authorities cited problems with their household registration documents, which every Chinese person needs, but Wang said officials had either failed or in some cases flat out refused to carry out the procedures needed to resolve the issue. The authorities cited problems with their household registration documents, which every Chinese person needs, but Wang said officials had either failed or in some cases flat out refused to carry out the procedures needed to resolve the issue.
Wang, 36, has now written an open letter to the United Nations asking for help. According to her account, released via the group Human Rights in China, she terminated a pregnancy because she feared that, without a marriage licence, she could be forced into a late-term abortion for breaching China's strict birth control laws. Although such measures are illegal in China, they still occur. Wang, 36, has now written an open letter to the United Nations asking for help. According to her account, released via the group Human Rights in China, she terminated a pregnancy because she feared that without a marriage licence she could be forced into a late-term abortion for breaching China's strict birth control laws. Although such measures are illegal in China, they still occur.
She alleged officials even pressed her ex-husband to urge her to return to him, and investigated her relatives – including her late father's first wife, who was married to him 50 years ago.She alleged officials even pressed her ex-husband to urge her to return to him, and investigated her relatives – including her late father's first wife, who was married to him 50 years ago.
Wang, who formerly worked at a middle school in Shanxi province, contacted Qin in February after reading about his work. She said that she was not an activist but supported democracy and human rights.Wang, who formerly worked at a middle school in Shanxi province, contacted Qin in February after reading about his work. She said that she was not an activist but supported democracy and human rights.
"We decided to get married because we have same beliefs, the same values," she told the Guardian."We decided to get married because we have same beliefs, the same values," she told the Guardian.
But they were detained shortly before their wedding and Wang was held again the following month for "unlawful cohabitation", she wrote, during what should have been their honeymoon. In August they detained her for a third time.But they were detained shortly before their wedding and Wang was held again the following month for "unlawful cohabitation", she wrote, during what should have been their honeymoon. In August they detained her for a third time.
"Even when we leave [our] district, if we take the bus, they follow us; if we take a private car, they actually force their way into the car to go with us," she wrote."Even when we leave [our] district, if we take the bus, they follow us; if we take a private car, they actually force their way into the car to go with us," she wrote.
"As soon as we leave the house, they follow us by foot, by motorcycle, or by car. During our morning jog, they not only follow us by bicycle, but they park a car along our path to watch us. Even if we sit at home all day, the authorities still position numerous people near our house. Not only do they arbitrarily detain our visitors, they also occasionally come into our home and harass us."As soon as we leave the house, they follow us by foot, by motorcycle, or by car. During our morning jog, they not only follow us by bicycle, but they park a car along our path to watch us. Even if we sit at home all day, the authorities still position numerous people near our house. Not only do they arbitrarily detain our visitors, they also occasionally come into our home and harass us.
"All of this unlawful persecution is something the average person cannot even imagine, much less withstand.""All of this unlawful persecution is something the average person cannot even imagine, much less withstand."
A spokesman for the government of Honggangcheng in Qingshan district, Wuhan, where the couple live, said: "They did not report this situation to us. I have not heard about this."A spokesman for the government of Honggangcheng in Qingshan district, Wuhan, where the couple live, said: "They did not report this situation to us. I have not heard about this."
Calls to the civil affairs office, which oversees marriage registration offices, rang unanswered.Calls to the civil affairs office, which oversees marriage registration offices, rang unanswered.
An official at the Qingshan district police branch said he was unaware of the situation but would check with other departments and respond.An official at the Qingshan district police branch said he was unaware of the situation but would check with other departments and respond.
Qin stopped giving interviews in March, writing that he could not bear any further burden after repeated detentions in the previous three months.Qin stopped giving interviews in March, writing that he could not bear any further burden after repeated detentions in the previous three months.
But would-be wedding guests echoed Wang's description of events in interviews with US broadcaster Radio Free Asia earlier this year. One said he had been put under house arrest to prevent him attending, while another said several friends were stopped as they travelled to Wuhan from across China. A third made it to the event, but said he was beaten for taking photographs there. But would-be wedding guests echoed Wang's description of events in interviews with the US broadcaster Radio Free Asia earlier this year. One said he had been put under house arrest to prevent him attending, while another said several friends were stopped as they travelled to Wuhan from across China. A third made it to the event, but said he was beaten for taking photographs there.
Wang told the Guardian that despite her fears and sense of insecurity, she had no regrets about her marriage.Wang told the Guardian that despite her fears and sense of insecurity, she had no regrets about her marriage.
"I hope I can help to take care of Mr Qin and help him with his life. It would be my great happiness," she said. "We won't separate. We are and will always be together.""I hope I can help to take care of Mr Qin and help him with his life. It would be my great happiness," she said. "We won't separate. We are and will always be together."