Wang Bingzhang
Encyclopedia
Wang Bingzhang is a political activist and founder of two Chinese pro-democracy movements. He is considered a political prisoner
of China.
, Hebei
, China. He graduated from Beijing Medical University and served as a doctor for eight years. In 1979, he was sponsored by the Chinese government to study abroad in McGill University
, Canada where he obtained his Ph.D. degree in pathology
in 1982.
In 1982, Wang established China Spring, the first pro-democracy Chinese magazine overseas. In the next year, he launched the "Union of Chinese Democracy Movement" publicly denouncing the one party rule in China. He later traveled back to China and co-founded two opposition parties, the Chinese Freedom Democracy Party and Chinese Democracy Justice Party in 1989 and 1998, respectively. The latter led t helloo his arrest in China. He was expelled from the country, but was not sentenced.
In early 2002, Wang was in Thailand
where Royal Thai Police
investigated him at the bequest of the Communist Party of China
. Finding no evidence against him and fearing for his safety, Dr. Wang was urged to leave the country. In June 2002, Wang went to Vietnam
with Yue Wu and Zhang Qi
where they were abducted by Chinese secret agents. In December 2002, the Chinese government announced his arrest after six months in secret custody.
In February 2003, Wang was sentenced to life in prison, on charges of espionage
and terrorism
. His trial was closed to the public and lasted for one day. He is imprisoned in Shaoguan Prison
in Shaoguan
, Guangdong
Province, China.
In March 2006, Wang was punished for misbehavior when he locked a guard in his cell with him. Communication with Wang, including visitation rights for family, was cut off, and family was informed that the punishment would last for 3 months. Shortly after, in April 2006, his father died, to which he responded with a hunger strike
. This resulted prolonged punishment. Visitation rights were restored in November 2006. According to Dr. Bing Wu Wang, Wang's younger brother, his physical health deteriorated rapidly since the last visitation. This was due, according to Wang, to a new prison warden with lower food quality requirements, harsher physical abuse and intense political study sessions.
Various international organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International
, Human Rights Watch
, Worldrights, etc., have voiced their opposition to Dr. Wang's imprisonment, saying China is arbitrarily detaining him. The United States and legislatures have both passed legislative bills in support of Wang and in denunciation of the CPC
's actions.
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
of China.
Biography
Wang Bingzhang was born on December 30, 1947, in ShijiazhuangShijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
, China. He graduated from Beijing Medical University and served as a doctor for eight years. In 1979, he was sponsored by the Chinese government to study abroad in McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Canada where he obtained his Ph.D. degree in pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
in 1982.
In 1982, Wang established China Spring, the first pro-democracy Chinese magazine overseas. In the next year, he launched the "Union of Chinese Democracy Movement" publicly denouncing the one party rule in China. He later traveled back to China and co-founded two opposition parties, the Chinese Freedom Democracy Party and Chinese Democracy Justice Party in 1989 and 1998, respectively. The latter led t helloo his arrest in China. He was expelled from the country, but was not sentenced.
In early 2002, Wang was in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
where Royal Thai Police
Royal Thai Police
The Royal Thai Police are the national police of Thailand.-About:Primary responsibility for the maintenance of public order through enforcement of the kingdom's laws was exercised by the Thailand National Police Department , a subdivision of the Ministry of Interior...
investigated him at the bequest of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
. Finding no evidence against him and fearing for his safety, Dr. Wang was urged to leave the country. In June 2002, Wang went to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
with Yue Wu and Zhang Qi
Zhang Qi
Zhang Qi is a male Chinese shot putter.He won the bronze medal at the 2005 Asian Championships and finished fifth at the 2006 Asian Games. He also competed at the 2006 World Indoor Championships without reaching the final....
where they were abducted by Chinese secret agents. In December 2002, the Chinese government announced his arrest after six months in secret custody.
In February 2003, Wang was sentenced to life in prison, on charges of espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
and terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. His trial was closed to the public and lasted for one day. He is imprisoned in Shaoguan Prison
Shaoguan Prison
Shaoguan Prison is a prison in Guangdong province of China. It is situated in Shaoguan. It is a prison with an area of more than 1000 km².-See also:* Jiangmen Prison* Gaoming Prison* Panyu Prison* Foshan Prison* Lianping Prison* Jiaoling Prison...
in Shaoguan
Shaoguan
Shaoguan , historically known as Shaokwan and Shao-chow, is a prefecture-level city in the north of Southern China's Guangdong province...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
Province, China.
In March 2006, Wang was punished for misbehavior when he locked a guard in his cell with him. Communication with Wang, including visitation rights for family, was cut off, and family was informed that the punishment would last for 3 months. Shortly after, in April 2006, his father died, to which he responded with a hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
. This resulted prolonged punishment. Visitation rights were restored in November 2006. According to Dr. Bing Wu Wang, Wang's younger brother, his physical health deteriorated rapidly since the last visitation. This was due, according to Wang, to a new prison warden with lower food quality requirements, harsher physical abuse and intense political study sessions.
Various international organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, Worldrights, etc., have voiced their opposition to Dr. Wang's imprisonment, saying China is arbitrarily detaining him. The United States and legislatures have both passed legislative bills in support of Wang and in denunciation of the CPC
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
's actions.