Latest for @dw_chinese - In response to #LiWenliang's death, a group of intellectuals and activists in #China issued a public statement, calling on #Beijing to designate February 6 as the "Freedom of Expression Day" and release all political prisoners. dw.com/zh/%E4%B8%93%E…
@dw_chinese I talked to one of the signatories of the statement, prominent human rights lawyer @wangyulawyer, who experienced cruel crackdown and detention from #Beijing during the 709 crackdown against human rights lawyers.
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer She thinks that authoritarian regimes rely on "lies and violence" to stay in power, but Dr. Li's passing allows many people in China to realize that the current regime is a government that's afraid of truth.
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer "A normal society is supposed to be open and transparent, and what's the basis of such openness and transparency? It is freedom of expression. That's why Dr. Zhang, Dr. Hsu and human rights lawyers are asking the establishment freedom of expression day."
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer She points out that when the outbreak first started, the Chinese government tried to hide the truth from the public. She said when the outbreak is out of control, the effectiveness of enforced lockdowns is questionable.
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer "By rejecting the US from sending experts to #China to help, such behavior is a political move. Isn't it laughable to use 'political means' to fight against an epidemic? The reason why #Beijing is cracking down on citizens is that they want to stabilize their power."
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer "Their goal is to let only one kind of voice to exist in society. Whatever they say is the only thing that matters," Wang told me.
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer Wang says the solidarity staged by intellectuals can likely encourage more Chinese people to speak up, especially when the human rights situation and rule of law in #China have deteriorated over the last few years.
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer "Ever since the 709 crackdown in 2015, the Chinese government has been arresting and detaining journalists and lawyers. #China needs these intellectuals because they are the elites of this country and they have the leadership quality."
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer "Li Wenliang's experience is the miniature of many Chinese people's current situation in life. In this country, many people could have experienced what Li Wenliang went through. His passing touched many people and I think this is the most important thing."
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer Wang also thinks that the passing of Li also destroyed the so-called saying of "survival is human rights." "His passing allows the public to see that freedom of expression is highly relevant to everyone's rights to survive."
@dw_chinese @wangyulawyer "Dr. Zhang's demand is that everyone should have the most basic rights and that is basic human rights. Without basic human rights, anything we are trying to talk about is meaningless, including everyone's life and survival," Wang told me.
