WASHINGTON: The US denounced on Wednesday (Oct 11) the deportation of a distinguished human rights lawyer from Laos to his native China, calling for particulars on his whereabouts and assurances on the ailing activist’s entry to medical care.
Lu Siwei was one of many attorneys appointed by the households of a Hong Kong activist group that was intercepted by authorities in 2020 whereas trying to flee the town by boat to Taiwan.
However after being arrested by Laotian police whereas en path to Thailand in July, Lu was transported again to China final month, the place he’s more likely to face authorized repercussions, a rights group mentioned.
He’s now being held at a detention facility in Sichuan, southwestern China, his household informed Amnesty Worldwide.
“The US condemns the pressured repatriation of Individuals’s Republic of China (PRC) nationwide and human rights lawyer Lu Siwei to the PRC from Laos, on the request of PRC authorities,” US State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller mentioned in a press release, utilizing China’s official identify.
“We name on the PRC to substantiate Lu’s present location; enable for exterior verification by impartial observers of Lu’s well-being, together with entry for docs to deal with Lu’s power well being situation; and allow his entry to a lawyer of his selecting.”
Lu and one different human rights lawyer – Ren Quanniu, who additionally sought to symbolize members of the “Hong Kong 12” that tried to flee to Taiwan – had their legal licenses revoked in 2021 by authorities.