Li Boguang
Encyclopedia
Li Boguang (born 1968) is a Chinese legal scholar and human rights
activist. Director of the Quimin Research Institute in Beijing
, Dr. Li has supported farmers in seeking compensation for confiscated farmland. He was arrested following his involvement in the Tangshan Protest
.
Li Boguang became known to the international community in 2004 as a result of his efforts to promote the rights of farmers. Along with Yu Meisun and Zhao Yan
, Dr. Li provided advice to farmers in Hebei Province who were resettled to make way for the Taolinkou reservoir, some 100 km (62.1 mi) east of Beijing. The farmers asserted that compensation funds were misappropriated by officials from the local Government. Led by Zhang Youren, a peasant activist, more than 11,000 displaced farmers signed a petition calling for the dismissal of the Municipal Party Secretary, Zhang He. The Tangshan Protest
led to the detention of Zhang Youren and a crackdown on rights activists.
In the same year, Li Boguang published an article that examined the impact of corruption on the lives of farmers. The article, entitled "Can Citizens Dismiss a Mayor" was published in Modern Civilisation Pictorial, No 12.
It has been reported that Li Boguang also advised farmers in Fu’an, a coastal city in the North of Fujian Province. Once again, farmers wanted to petition central government regarding a dispute over land.
In both Fujian and Hebei, police put pressure on villagers to denounce Li Boguang and another activists. Li Boguang was arrested in Fu’an on 14 December and charged with defrauding farmers. Police reportedly searched his home in Beijing, confiscating computers and documents.
In March 2005, AFP
reported that Li Boguang had been released on condition that he remain in Beijing and have no contact with farmers or others seeking to petition the government about abuses by local officials. The actual date of release was later reported as 21 January.
It has also been reported that Dr. Li was affiliated with the Fangzhou Congregation, a chinese house church
in Beijing's Chaoyang district. Other members of the church include Gao Zhisheng
and Yu Jie, founder of the Chinese branch of International PEN
.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist. Director of the Quimin Research Institute in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Dr. Li has supported farmers in seeking compensation for confiscated farmland. He was arrested following his involvement in the Tangshan Protest
Tangshan Protest
In 2004 more than 11,000 farmers in Hebei Province of China signed a petition calling for the removal of Communist Party officials who were allegedly involved in corruption...
.
Involvement in Farmer's Rights
Born in 1968, Li Boguang studied Philosophy, Politics and Law at university.Li Boguang became known to the international community in 2004 as a result of his efforts to promote the rights of farmers. Along with Yu Meisun and Zhao Yan
Zhao Yan
Zhao Yan is a Chinese researcher employed by the Beijing bureau of the New York Times. He was imprisoned for a three year period starting 17 September 2004, on charges of fraud, after originally being arrested for revealing state secrets...
, Dr. Li provided advice to farmers in Hebei Province who were resettled to make way for the Taolinkou reservoir, some 100 km (62.1 mi) east of Beijing. The farmers asserted that compensation funds were misappropriated by officials from the local Government. Led by Zhang Youren, a peasant activist, more than 11,000 displaced farmers signed a petition calling for the dismissal of the Municipal Party Secretary, Zhang He. The Tangshan Protest
Tangshan Protest
In 2004 more than 11,000 farmers in Hebei Province of China signed a petition calling for the removal of Communist Party officials who were allegedly involved in corruption...
led to the detention of Zhang Youren and a crackdown on rights activists.
In the same year, Li Boguang published an article that examined the impact of corruption on the lives of farmers. The article, entitled "Can Citizens Dismiss a Mayor" was published in Modern Civilisation Pictorial, No 12.
It has been reported that Li Boguang also advised farmers in Fu’an, a coastal city in the North of Fujian Province. Once again, farmers wanted to petition central government regarding a dispute over land.
In both Fujian and Hebei, police put pressure on villagers to denounce Li Boguang and another activists. Li Boguang was arrested in Fu’an on 14 December and charged with defrauding farmers. Police reportedly searched his home in Beijing, confiscating computers and documents.
In March 2005, AFP
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
reported that Li Boguang had been released on condition that he remain in Beijing and have no contact with farmers or others seeking to petition the government about abuses by local officials. The actual date of release was later reported as 21 January.
It has also been reported that Dr. Li was affiliated with the Fangzhou Congregation, a chinese house church
Chinese house church
Chinese house churches are a religious movement of unregistered assemblies of Christians in the People's Republic of China, which operate independently of the government-run Three-Self Patriotic Movement and China Christian Council for Protestant groups and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic...
in Beijing's Chaoyang district. Other members of the church include Gao Zhisheng
Gao Zhisheng
Gao Zhisheng is a Chinese human rights attorney and dissident known for defending activists and religious minorities and documenting alleged human rights abuses in China. Because of his work, Zhisheng has been disbarred and detained by the Chinese government several times and released...
and Yu Jie, founder of the Chinese branch of International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
.
See also
- Tangshan ProtestTangshan ProtestIn 2004 more than 11,000 farmers in Hebei Province of China signed a petition calling for the removal of Communist Party officials who were allegedly involved in corruption...
- Zhang Youren, farmer activist
- Yu Meisun, lawyer
- Zhao YanZhao YanZhao Yan is a Chinese researcher employed by the Beijing bureau of the New York Times. He was imprisoned for a three year period starting 17 September 2004, on charges of fraud, after originally being arrested for revealing state secrets...
, journalist - List of Chinese dissidents
- Human rights in the People's Republic of ChinaHuman rights in the People's Republic of ChinaHuman rights in the People's Republic of China are a matter of dispute between the Chinese government, other countries, international NGOs, and dissidents inside the country. Organizations such as the U.S. State Department, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have accused the Chinese...
- Taishi Incident
- Hou Wenzhou
- Guo YanGuo YanGuo Yan is a female Chinese table tennis player. Two-time winner of World Cup in 2006 and 2010. She is currently ranked 2nd in ITTF world ranking as of February, 2011.-Career records:Singles...