Where Is Wei Jingsheng?

Where is Wei Jingsheng? There has been no word from the Chinese dissident since his arrest in Beijing on April 1, 1994. The internationally prominent human rights and democracy advocate has been held without being charged or tried. His whereabouts are a mystery. His family has been unable to meet with or even communicate with him. Chinese authorities refuse to provide any information about Wei.

The latest official American inquiry about Wei’s status was made last week by U.S. Undersecretary of State Peter Tarnoff during a meeting in Washington with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Huaqui. Tarnoff raised Wei’s case as one of several human rights cases in China involving people who have been imprisoned for expressing political views. Separately, a group of Congress members and a U.N. group sent inquiries to the Chinese government about Wei. His plight is gaining increased international attention because Wei was recently nominated for the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.

Chinese authorities first silenced Wei with a term of 15 years in solitary confinement for actions during the 1978-79 Democracy Wall movement. Wei’s call for democratic reforms and criticism of China’s leadership were cited by Beijing as “counterrevolutionary propaganda and excitement.” He was released six months short of serving the full term, in September, 1993, when Beijing was jockeying to host the 2000 Olympics, a bid that failed. Wei, a co-recipient of the 1994 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, was back championing human rights and democracy when he was arrested without explanation a year ago.

In rebuffing inquiries about Wei, Beijing pulls down a veil of excuses about sovereignty. That only heightens suspicion and distrust of Beijing both within and outside of China.