A draft letter from U.S. Senate to President BushU.S. Senators Jon Kyl, George Allen, Sam Brownback, John Kerry December 5, 2003
President George W. Bush Dear President Bush: We are writing to request your urgent assistance in the case of Dr. Yang Jianli, a former Tiananmen Square activist, who has been detained in China since April 26, 2002, and to ask you to raise the case to Premier Wen Jiabao during your upcoming meeting in Washington. An internationally renowned scholar with two doctoral degrees, including one from Harvard University, Dr. Yang is a brilliant and capable citizen who can contribute to China’s future. This past June, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, consisting of representatives from Algeria, France, Hungary, Iran, and Paraguay found that Dr. Yang was being held in violation of international law. In addition to the U.S. State Department calling for Dr. Yang’s release, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate both unanimously passed resolutions urging China to release Dr. Yang. On August 4, 2003, Dr. Yang was put on trial in Beijing. Despite China’s commitment to issue a verdict within one month, over four months later he remains in Chinese custody and no verdict appears to be forthcoming. Dr. Yang’s wife and children are American citizens residing in Massachusetts. His ongoing detention is a cause of great pain and anguish to his family. Further, Dr. Yang was held incommunicado, in solitary confinement, and without access to reading materials for over a year. We urge you to encourage Premier Wen to allow Dr. Yang to return to the United States as soon as possible. This positive humanitarian gesture would be welcomed by all of us who care about strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and China. Thank you for considering our request and taking the time to address this important matter. Sincerely,
Sen. Jon Kyl -------------------------- |