China: China Democracy Party (CDP) in Guangdong, including structure and activities; treatment of CDP members by authorities (2012-December 2013)

Information on the China Democracy Party (CDP) specifically in Guangdong could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response; however, the following information may be useful.

1. China Democracy Party (CDP), Background

The China Democracy Party (CDP) was founded in China in 1998 (Asianews.it 29 Nov. 2010; CDP-US 25 June 1998) by:

Xu Wenli (RFA 11 Nov. 2013; Human Rights First 27 June 2013; Asianews.it 29 Nov. 2010);

Qin Yongmin (RFA 11 Nov. 2013; Asianews.it 29 Nov. 2010);

Wang Youcai (RFA 11 Nov. 2013; Asianews.it 29 Nov. 2010);

Zha Jianguo (South China Morning Post 28 Oct. 2012);

Zhu Yufu (CDP-US 11 Feb. 2012); and

Xie Wanjun (RFA 11 Nov. 2013; The Morningside Post 17 Feb. 2012).

The founders were sentenced to lengthy jail terms after trying to register the CDP as an official party with the Chinese authorities in 1998 (The Star Ledger 14 Nov. 2013; RFA 11 Nov. 2013). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, Xu Wenli, a co-founder of the CDP, stated that, in the past 15 years, members of the CDP "in mainland China have always been persecuted by the Chinese government. Many of its leaders are still in prison. Those who are released are still under strict monitoring and control by the Chinese government" (27 Nov. 2013). The CDP states in its Human Rights Report of the China Democracy Party Members 2012 that

the CDP was suppressed by the Chinese government soon after its formation, and its principal leaders within China all suffered severe persecution, participants were sent to prison on all kinds of charges including "subverting the state system" and "incitement to subvert the state system.". (Feb. 2013, 4)

The US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 on China states that "no laws or regulations specifically govern the formation of political parties. However, the CDP remained banned, and the government continued to monitor, detain, and imprison current and former CDP members" (19 Apr. 2012, 40). The CDP reports that it "has been listed by the Public Security Bureau [of China] as an 'enemy organization'" (Feb. 2013, 3).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor of Political Science at Columbia University who specializes in Chinese politics, indicated that "there have been several CDPs over the course of time. There was one active inside China in the 1990s, and as far as [his research indicates] all its activists were arrested or exiled and it is no longer active" (22 Nov. 2013). The CDP operates in two locations outside of China, one in the United Kingdom (CDP-UK n.d.) and one in New York (CDP-US 24 May 2012).

2. Objectives of the CDP

Asianews.it, an English and Chinese online source of "news, testimonials, reflections, and the words of the Pope and church personalities, all of which bolster the [Catholic] Church's mission in China" (12 Apr. 2003), reports that the CDP was formed "as an alternative to the one party state led by the Chinese Communist Party ... as a way to reform the state from within" (29 Nov. 2010).

The CDP states in its Human Rights Report that it

is a party of constitutional democracy, and its objective at the present stage is to advance the transformation of China's political system through peaceful and rational means, turning Mainland China into a progressive constitutional democracy. (Feb. 2013, 3)

Further, it

works to establish a Third Chinese Republic that is free and prosperous, enjoys human rights and equality, and is a constitutional democracy. The primary objectives of the CPD are: to seek to advance universal direct elections via a constitutional convention, strive for legitimate and independent seats at all levels of representative government and legislative organs, end one-party rule in China, and achieve the democratic transformation of China through peaceful means. (CDP Feb. 2013, 3, 4)

The CDP in New York states in the code of conduct on its website that its principles are to uphold justice, human rights, and realize a democracy in China while "terminating" the Chinese Communist Party (CDP-US 10 Feb. 2004). The CDP in the UK and New York state on their websites that the party promotes democracy, economic freedom, social justice, legal order, peace, reason, and non-violence (CDP-UK n.d.; CDP-US 25 June 1998).

3. Structure

The CDP reports that it "is the only political party for Chinese democrats that has branches in all major Mainland Chinese provinces and cities, as well as in every major democratic country in the world" (Feb. 2013, 4). Corroboration could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3.1 Membership

In an article on the office of the CDP in New York, the Morningside Post reports that "the CDP has greatly expanded over the last decade, with 1,400 members in the US and 4,800 branches in China" (17 Feb. 2012). Corroboration could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The code of conduct on the website of the CDP in New York's states that "one can be admitted to be a member of CDP provided that he/she is at the age of 18 or above, files the application personally, [and is] involve[d] in the activities of CDP voluntarily" (CDP-US 10 Feb. 2004, Ch. 5, Clause 1). The CDP also states that prospective members in mainland China should send an e-mail to the Chairman stating their wish to join the party as well as repeating the Party oath, which can be found on their website (-ibid. n.d., Part 1, para. 2). The website also advises that prospective members can go to the New York CDP office "to seek advice, and go through the procedure for joining CDP" (ibid., para. 3). The requirements for joining the China Democracy Party are:

Applicants agree with the political principle of China Democracy Party;

Applicants advocate for social advancement and political reform of China.

Applicants are conscientious to attend the various political activities and the various social activities which are organized by China Democracy Party.

Applicants follow the organization's guidelines;

Applicants know that the CDP is regarded as a "hostile organization" and that it is "dangerous" to join the China Democracy Party and will "assume danger" for pushing the democratic course of China (ibid. 8 Jan. 2007).

3.2 The Chair of the CDP

The CDP in New York states that the "chairman and vice-chairman are chosen through the general election in representative conference, based on the rule of the minority is subordinate to the majority" (ibid. 10 Feb 2004, Ch.7, Clause 1).

The Morningside Post reports that Xie Wanjun is the Chairman of the CDP in New York after having fled from China to the United States as a refugee about 1999 (17 Feb. 2012). The CDP New York website, however, lists its Chairman as Jun Wang (CDP-US 24 May 2012).

4. CDP Activities Abroad

The Morningside Post indicates that

the main activities of CDP members are Democratic Marathon and Democratic Infiltration, or dissemination of information about CDP to individuals in China. Members demonstrate at the UN square every Tuesday afternoon .... Different groups of members gather at the office every week to send publicity materials enclosed in hand-written envelopes to civil servants, college professors and people in other fields back in China. (17 Feb. 2012)

Corroboration could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

5. Treatment of CDP Members by Chinese Authorities

Amnesty International states in its 2012 annual report on China that Chinese "authorities [continue] to harass, intimidate, persecute and criminalize pro-democracy and human rights activists" (2012). Freedom House states that "opposition groups like the China Democracy Party (CDP) are suppressed and members are imprisoned" (2012). Amnesty International adds that activists supporting the CDP were sentenced to "long prison terms" (2012). Further, the US Department of State's Country Reports 2012 states that "there were widespread reports of activists and petitioners being committed to mental health facilities and involuntarily subjected to psychiatric treatment for political reasons" (US 19 Apr. 2013, 5). Further, "members of the banned Chinese Democratic Party (CDP) ... were among those housed with mentally ill patients [when detained by the Chinese government]" (ibid.). Corroboration could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Human Rights First, a non-profit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in New York and Washington, DC (Human Rights First n.d.), notes in a June 2013 article that CDP co-founder Xu Wenli "as a result of his outspoken advocacy, ... spent 16 of the last 20 years in prison, suffering torture and solitary confinement" (ibid. 27 June 2013). Corroboration could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. He was granted political asylum by the US in the winter of 2003 after multiple prison sentences and "continues his pro-democracy work from the U.S." (ibid.).

The BBC says that a CDP member was reported to have been sentenced to three years in a labour camp for attempting to set up a branch in Chongqing in 1998 (19 Dec. 1998). The Weekly Standard, a magazine published in Washington, DC (n.d.), reports on the arrest and detention of CDP supporters "well into 2000" (ibid. 30 June 2008). The US Department of State's Country Reports 2012 states that "other current or former CDP members ... remained in prison or in RTL [re-education through labour] camps for their calls for political reform and their affiliation with the CDP" (19 Apr. 2012).

Radio Free Asia (RFA), "a private, nonprofit corporation that broadcasts news and information to listeners in Asian countries" (n.d.), reports the detention of CDP activist Zhang Lin on 22 August 2013 on charges of public disorder when his daughter was refused access to schooling (RFA 9 Sept. 2013). He previously served 13 years for pro-democracy political activity (ibid.). RFA reports further that Zhang Lin's 10-year-old daughter escaped to the US "after being held under house arrest [with her family] and denied access to an education [in China]" because of her father's activities in the CDP (ibid.).

On 20 February 2012 RFA reported that CDP co-founder Qin Yongmin was surrounded by police and threatened with "the harshest kind of punishment" if he launched a website aimed at promoting "peaceful" change. The RFA report states that Qin was under 24-hour surveillance by officials, subjected to searches of his home, confiscation of his keys and computer equipment, and denied visitation by fellow activists (20 Feb. 2012). Corroboration could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources state that Zhu Yufu, a co-founder of the CDP, was sentenced in February 2012 to 7 years in prison for "inciting subversion of statepower" (South China Morning Post 1 Feb. 2012; CDP-US 11 Feb. 2012).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Al Jazeera. 26 July 2013. "Wukan: After the Uprising." [Accessed 25 Nov. 2013]

Amnesty International. 2012. "China." Amnesty International Report 2012: The State of the World's Human Rights. [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

Asianews.it. 29 November 2010. "Qin Yongmin, Cofounder of the China Democracy Party, Freed Today." [Accessed 25 Nov. 2013]

_____. 12 April 2003. Bernardo Cervellera. "About Us." [Accessed 2 Dec. 2013]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 19 December 1998. "World: Asia-Pacific Dissident Sent to Labour Camp." [Accessed 10 Dec. 2013]

China Democracy Party (CDP). February 2013. Human Rights Report of the China Democracy Party Members 2012. Sent to the Research Directorate by Xu Wenli on 27 November 2013.

China Democracy Party, UK branch (CDP-UK). N.d. "UK Branch of China Democracy Party." [Accessed 25 Nov. 2013]

China Democracy Party, US branch (CDP-US). 24 May 2012. "A Newspaper Box of China Democracy Journal Was Set on Fire." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. 11 February 2012. "One of China Democracy Party Founders Zhu, Yufu was Sentenced for 7 Years." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. 8 January 2007. "The Requirement for Joining China Democracy Party." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. 10 February 2004. "Code of China Democracy Party." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. 25 June 1998. "The Declaration on the Establishment of China Democracy Party." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. N.d. "The Procedure for Joining China Democracy Party." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

Freedom House. 2012. "China." Freedom in the World 2012. [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

Human Rights First. 27 June 2013. "Xu Wenli - China." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 25 Nov. 2013]

The Morningside Post. 17 February 2012. "NYC China Democracy Party Pushes for Reform Back Home." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. N.d. "About." [Accessed 25 Nov. 2013]

Professor of Political Science, Columbia University. 22 November 2013. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Radio Free Asia (RFA). 11 November 2013. "New China Party Reflects Growing Social Tensions." (Factiva)

_____. 9 September 2013. "Dissident's Daughter Flees China in Search of Schooling." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. 20 February 2012. "Activists Warned over Website." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. N.d. "About Radio Free Asia." [Accessed 2 Dec. 2013]

South China Morning Post. 28 October 2012. Verna Yu. "Anxious Authorities Crack Down on Critics Ahead of Party Congress." [Accessed 31 Nov. 2013]

_____. 1 February 2012. Verna Yu. "Verdict Pending in Trial of Dissident Writer Zhu Yufu." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

_____. N.d. "FAQs." [Accessed 2 Dec. 2013]

The Star Ledger [New Jersey]. 14 November 2013. "Views from Elsewhere." (Factiva)

United States (US). 19 April 2012. Department of State. "China (Includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012. [Accessed 21 Nov. 2013]

The Weekly Standard [Washington, DC]. 30 June 2008. "China's CDP, Fighting for Democracy." [Accessed 10 Dec. 2013]

_____. N.d. "About the Weekly Standard." [Accessed 10 Dec. 2013]

Xu, Wenli. 27 November 2013. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following persons and organizations were unsuccsesful within the time constraints of this Response: China Democracy Party - United Kingdom headquarters, United States headquarters; Director of Centre for East Asia Studies, University of Pennsylvania; Director of China and Asia-Pacific Studies (CAPS) program, Cornell University; Director of China Program, Stanford University; Director of University of Glasgow Confucius Institute; Human Rights in China - Hong Kong Office; Professor of Chinese Politics at California State University; Professor of Chinese Politics at Cornell University; Professor of Chinese Politics at Hong Kong University.

Internet sites, including: Asia Human Rights Commission; China Daily; Christina Post; ecoi.net; The Global Times; Google; Human Rights in China; Human Rights Watch; People's Daily; UN - Integrated Regional Information Networks, Refworld; US - Department of State; Washington Institute; Xinhua.