Via email to: [email protected]
President Xi Jinping The State Council General Office 2 Fuyoujie Xichengqu Beijingshi 100017 People's Republic of China
March 29, 2017
RE: Ensure Professor Feng Chongyi’s right to travel
Your Excellency:
I write on behalf of the Scholars at Risk Network to express grave concern that Professor Feng Chongyi, a scholar of China studies at the University of Technology, Sydney, has been prohibited from traveling outside China, apparently to retaliate against or prevent nonviolent academic work. Scholars at Risk respectfully urges you to direct the appropriate authorities to lift any travel restrictions against Professor Feng.
Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of more than 450 universities and colleges in 35 countries dedicated to protecting the human rights of scholars around the world, and to raising awareness, understanding of, and respect for the principles of academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of expression, opinion, thought, association, and travel. In cases like that of Professor Feng, involving alleged infringement of these freedoms, Scholars at Risk investigates hoping to clarify and resolve matters favorably.
SAR understands that Professor Feng traveled to China in early March 2017 to research conditions relating to human rights lawyers in the country. During his last week in the country, state security officers in Kunming visited Professor Feng and questioned him about his research and the individuals he had been meeting with. On March 24, Professor Feng was scheduled to return to Australia, however, he was barred from boarding his flight upon arriving at the customs checkpoint at Guangzhou Airport. The next day, he reportedly made a second failed attempt to board a return flight, and learned that he is being denied exit from China on allegations that he is a threat to state security. SAR further understands that Professor Feng continues to face questioning from state security officers, and that he has been advised that he only has permission to travel within the country until further notice
We welcome any additional information that may explain these events or clarify our understandings. Absent this, the facts as described suggest that Professor Feng has been arbitrarily denied the right to travel, apparently with intent to retaliate against or obstruct the nonviolent exercise of the right to academic freedom, freedom of expression, and freedom of association – conduct that is expressly protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory.
We therefore respectfully urge you to investigate the situation and to urge the appropriate authorities to lift any travel restrictions against Professor Feng’s or, pending this, to explain the circumstances of any restrictions on his travel and to ensure his access to counsel throughout any investigative proceedings.
We thank you for your attention to this important matter, and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Robert Quinn Executive Director
CC:
The Honorable Mr. Wang Yi Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China No. 2, Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100701 People’s Republic of China Email: [email protected]
The Honorable Li Keqiang Premier The State Council General Office 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017 People’s Republic of China Email: [email protected]
H.E. Mr. Liu Jieyi Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations 350 East 35th Street New York, NY 10016 USA Fax: +1 (212) 634-7626 Email: [email protected]
The Honorable H.E. Mr. Cui Tiankai Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the United States Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States 3505 International Place NW Washington, DC 20008 USA Fax: +1 (202) 328-2582 Email: [email protected]
The Honorable David H. Rank Deputy Chief of Mission United States Embassy of Beijing, China No. 55 An Jia Lou Lu 100600 People’s Republic of China
The Honorable Malcolm Turnbull MP Prime Minister of Australia Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Australia Email: [email protected]
The Honorable Rex W. Tillerson Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 USA
The Honorable Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Email: [email protected]
Professor Attila Brungs Vice-Chancellor and President University of Technology, Sydney 15 Broadway Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia Email: [email protected]