Human Rights in China Calls for the Immediate Release of Peng Lifa
总部设在纽约的中国人权要求中国政府应立即释放彭立发(彭载舟)。
后附中文版
Human Rights in China, headquartered in New York, calls for the immediate release of Peng Lifa (Peng Zaizhou) by the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC). On 13th October 2022, Peng Lifa acted alone and of his own volition when he hung banners on the Sitong Bridge in Beijing, an act which sent shockwaves throughout China and the world. He courageously spoke out against the extreme zero-COVID policy and authoritarian governance, condemning the Chinese government’s deprivation of freedom and dignity from citizens of the PRC. Under a period of invasive and extreme surveillance, such an action was exceptionally rare, and tore through the iron curtain then enforced on civil society by Chinese authorities.
Although the government worked quickly to suppress the news; secretly detaining Peng and making him disappear, and even targeting his family - his protest ignited the spark of the White Paper Movement. It inspired countless individuals across the PRC to pursue freedom and justice themselves. Peng Lifa’s banners read: “We want dignity, not lies; we want reform, not a Cultural Revolution; we want to be citizens, not slaves.” These slogans expressed the sentiments of countless Chinese citizens. Peng wasn’t just speaking for himself, but for the millions of people struggling under lockdowns and state-directed deception.
Two years have passed, and Peng Lifa’s whereabouts remain unknown. Despite efforts by authorities to erase place names and censor information surrounding his protest - to bury it from collective memory - Peng Lifa’s actions have become part of history. They represent the refusal of Chinese citizens to remain silent. Human Rights in China urges the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to immediately release Peng Lifa and to cease the harassment and persecution of his family. Peng Lifa’s courage has become a beacon for countless individuals, illuminating the path forwards in the pursuit of freedom. Oppressors may have the power to temporarily obscure and stifle the truth, but they cannot extinguish the flame which has sparked nationwide and across borders. It has been reported that over one hundred people were arrested in Beijing alone for demonstrating their support for Peng Lifa.
In late July this year (2024), Fang Yirong hung similar protest banners in Loudi, Hunan Province. Fang also called for democracy and freedom in China, echoing Peng Lifa’s call to the authorities. Despite a multi-tiered and extensive system of censorship, Peng Lifa’s voice continues to resonate inside and outside China. Here, Human Rights in China once again reaffirms its opposition to any form of enforced disappearances and suppression of free speech. Peng Lifa and his family should not be forcibly disappeared. They must be released, immediately. The release of Peng Lifa would represent not only a restoration of his personal dignity, safety and health - and for those of his family members and friends, too - but also a signal of commitment to respect for human rights, and greater individual freedom throughout Chinese society.
The Chinese government, the CCP, may believe that enforced disappearances will eventually silence the issue and eradicate its roots. But the flame which Peng ignited burns within the heart of every person who seeks freedom. This struggle will only end when every Chinese citizen has the freedom to express their opinions.
总部设在纽约的中国人权要求中国政府应立即释放彭立发(彭载舟)。 2022年10月13日，彭立发以一己之力在北京四通桥上挂出了震撼中国乃至世界的横幅，勇敢发声反对极端的清零政策和独裁统治，谴责中国政府对人⺠自由与尊严的剥夺。这一行动在当时 严密的监控下极其罕⻅，戳破了中国当局对公⺠社会的铁幕。尽管当局迅速压制消息，并将彭立发秘密拘捕、强行失踪、株连家人，但他的呼声点燃了白纸运动的火焰，激发了无数人追求自由与公正的勇气。 彭立发的横幅写道:“不要谎言要尊严、不要文革要改革、不做奴才做公⺠。”这些标语刻画了无数 中国人的心声，他不只是为自己呐喊，而是为了亿万在封控和谎言中挣扎的同胞。两年过去了， 彭立发的下落仍是未知。尽管当局试图通过消除地名、封锁信息来掩盖他的抗议，彭立发的行动已经成为历史的一部分，代表着公⺠不愿沉默的斗争。 中国人权呼吁中国政府立即释放彭立发，并停止对他家人的骚扰和打压。彭立发的勇气是一座灯塔，照亮了无数人对自由的追求。压迫者或许能掩盖真相一时，但他们无法扑灭这团在全国各地 燃起的火焰。据了解，仅仅在北京就有一百多人因声援彭立发被捕。今年7月底方艺融在湖南娄底 市再次悬挂出标语抗议，像彭立发一样要求民主自由。尽管层层封锁，彭立发的声音还是在墙内外产生持续影响。 在这里，中国人权再一次重申，反对任何形式的强迫失踪和压制言论的行为。彭立发和家人不应被强制消失，他们应立即被释放。释放彭立发不仅是对他个人尊严的恢复，更是对整个中国社会尊重人权与自由的承诺。 中国政府认为强迫失踪后，事情终会结束。但他点燃的火焰已经在每个追求自由的人心中燃烧， 只有在每个中国人都能自由表达自己意见的那一天，这场斗争才会结束。