A relief, but more efforts neededJay Nordlinger July 15, 2003 From time to time, this column has reported on the fate of Jianli Yang, the Chinese human-rights activist and hero who was arrested by the PRC last year. (One such item is here.) His family and supporters have been unable to confirm even that Jianli is alive. So, a letter sent out by Jianli's wife, Christina Fu, came as a relief. It read, "Dear friends: I have a great news to tell you. On July 8, our lawyer, Mo Shaoping, and his assistant met Jianli in the Beijing State Security Detention Center. I'm thrilled and much relieved that Jianli is alive and in good health. (According to our lawyer, 'Jianli looks fine.' He wore the clothes that were left at the center by his brother earlier this year.) . . . "Mo told Jianli about H. Res. 199, S. Res. 184, the U.N. decision, and many, many efforts around the world to free him. Jianli looked confident and hopeful. "All I can say now is that it is your deep care and tireless work over the past fourteen months that have saved Jianli's life. I'm very, very grateful to you all. "Now it's critical and urgent to build support in the Senate. Again, I respectfully ask you, please write your senators if they have not signed on to S. Res.184, and please also send a thank-you note to those who are already a co-sponsor. "I depend on your continuing efforts to bring Jianli home in the near future." Again, the site dedicated to freedom for this extraordinary man is www.SupportJianli.org. (Title added by the editor of yangjianli.com) -------------------------- |