Imprisoned Wang BingZhang was once a dissident China lawyer threatened with losing license for daring to represent the jailed activist’s desperate needs

The following is the latest news on Dr. Wang BingZhang’s case from Chinese Human Rights Defenders. Thanks to Rebecca Landy for the link. Also, take a look at Democracy Chronicles’ other articles related to Wang’s case. From China Human Rights Defenders (via Twishort):

Lawyer Representing a Political Prisoner Threatened by Judicial Authorities Guangzhou-based human rights lawyer Liu Zhengqing (#刘正清), who is representing imprisoned democracy activist Wang Bingzhang (#王炳章), received a warning on November 21 from Guangzhou judicial authorities that his license may be revoked if he continues to represent Wang. The 66-year-old activist was convicted of “terrorism” and “espionage,” and was sentenced to life in prison in 2003. Lawyer Liu Zhengqing was hired by the family of Wang Bingzhang in 2013 to file an appeal.

He received the proper legal authorization to represent Dr. Wang. The lawyer, however, was blocked from visiting his client at#Beijiang prison in Shaoguan City of Guangdong on October 29. Prison authorities filed a complaint against him accusing him of falsifying the authorization documents.

Afterwards, Guangzhou judicial authorities warned Liu, threatened to strip him of his lawyer’s license, if he continues to work on Dr. Wang’s case. A well-known Chinese dissident in exile, Dr. Wang Bingzhang established the first Chinese pro-democracy magazine overseas and also co-founded two pro-democracy parties in China. He was abducted from Vietnam in 2002 by Chinese authorities. Wang’s family said that his health conditions have since worsened and he suffers from multiple illnesses.

On June 27, 2002, Dr. Wang traveled to Vietnam to meet Chinese labour activists. Together with his two traveling companions, they disappeared. He and his companions were kidnapped from Vietnam and forced into China by boat. Pro-democracy activist Dr. Wang BingZhang continues to languish in a Chinese prison serving a life sentence in solitary confinement. Also see wangbingzhang.org