By Jerome A. Cohen
Human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang
Here is the latest report on the famous, now released from prison, human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang. Its description of the torture and many other abuses he suffered while being convicted on national security grounds in China should be of interest to all in Hong Kong who might fall into the category of “the very small number” of people whose prosecutions for violations of the forthcoming National Security Law might subject them to central authorities.
The report is a curiosity in several respects. Why has the PRC allowed this first “face to face” media interview with Wang as well as his earlier interviews with overseas media? This is not normal “non-release release” for PRC ex-political prisoners.
Why does the interview feature only the torture and other charges that Wang has already made known but says nothing about his earlier vow to pursue justice and try to review his case in PRC courts? Has Wang made any progress in this notoriously uphill struggle? How has he tried to proceed? Is he refusing to talk to foreign media about this current effort in order to avoid possibly prejudicing it because of adverse PRC official reactions?
The translation of the interview seems a bit odd in places, especially to call the abusive police, prosecutorial and judicial measures taken against Wang “sloppy.” I wonder what the Chinese term Wang used was.