As China declares victory over the pandemic, the historic protests in November that spelled the end of zero-covid laws are beginning to fade from memory.
But as the country moved on, many protestors went missing, as authorities quietly deepened a crackdown on dissidents.
Carrying blank white sheets in the dark, thousands of people rallied against restrictive Covid policies in the so-called White Paper protests. It was a rare display of criticism of the ruling Chinese Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping.
Meanwhile, the police made a few arrests. Now, months later, scores of those protesters remain in police custody, with one group estimating more than 100 arrests, Chinese activists say.
International rights groups and foreign universities have demanded their release. And activist groups have published lists of names of those allegedly detained. This includes those who protested in Beijing as well as other cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Nanjing.
Chinese officials did not respond to questions about the arrests. But through interviews with friends and lawyers, the BBC was able to confirm the names of 12 people arrested in Beijing.
At least five of them have been released on bail. Of those still in custody, four women – Cao Zhixin, Li Siqi, Li Yuanjing and Zhai Dangrui – have been formally arrested on charges of “inciting quarrels and inciting trouble”. It’s a notoriously vague charge that carries a maximum sentence of five years, and one that critics say is often used to stifle dissent.
‘They are not activists’
Many of those arrested are well-educated – some have studied at universities in Britain and the US – and include writers, journalists, a musician, a teacher and financial industry professionals.
Most of the prisoners in Beijing were part of a loose network of friends who loved the arts and often met at book clubs, film screenings and discussions.
Many of them are women and police have reportedly questioned them about whether they were feminists or involved in “feminine activities”. Chinese authorities have increasingly cracked down on or censored women’s rights activists in recent years.
Although the group was socially conscious, and some members expressed support for #MeToo figure Xianzi, they were not activists, their friends insisted.
“They are just a group of youths who are concerned about the society… My friend is not only interested in women’s rights but also in human rights and the rights of the weak. It has nothing to do with feminist activities. “Yes,” said one. Friends of Prisoners
On November 27, several women from the group joined a public vigil on the Liangma River in Beijing.
The event was one of many held impromptu across China that night to mourn the victims of an apartment fire in Urumqi that shocked China – many believed the victims were fleeing Covid restrictions. could not escape due to , although the authorities disputed this.
The vigil turned into a peaceful protest, with people holding blank pieces of paper to symbolize their frustration.
Another friend said, “The environment has been so oppressive for so long. When they went, they didn’t think they were taking part in a movement. They thought it was just a way to vent their emotions.” “
“They didn’t clash with the police or express radical views. So they didn’t take it seriously.”
So much so that his friends say he did little to protect his identity, given how quickly China is known to silence protests.
It’s unclear what led police to target this particular group of friends, but they reportedly used surveillance cameras and facial recognition software to track down the protesters, and make arrests. Phones of those who went have been searched.
One of those arrested created a Telegram group that grew from several members to more than 60. And many of them used phone numbers registered under their real names. Two days later the police interrogated some of them.
“We were talking on the phone while he was being taken away,” said the boyfriend of one of the detainees. “She told me that some of her friends were being taken away and disconnected. She was trying to delete things from her mobile phone. She was taken away before she could delete them.”
According to activists, the arrests accelerated during December and January as more friends were detained one by one.
Cao Zhixin sent a video of himself talking to the camera to his friends in anticipation of his arrest. It came with instructions to publish it online in case it went missing.
“What we did was express our feelings in a reasonable way,” Ms Kao said in the clip, which has now gone viral. How much room is left to share?
Concern and condemnation
Several human rights groups and academic institutions are now calling for their release in a sign of growing international concern. British university Goldsmiths confirmed to the BBC that Li Seki was a former student, and said it was “deeply concerned” for her welfare.
A spokesman for Goldsmiths said, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the suppression of freedom of expression and urge the Chinese authorities to immediately release all those detained in connection with the vigilance.” “
He added that the university warden had written a letter to the Chinese ambassador to Britain, Zheng Zhiguang. The Chinese embassy has not yet responded to the BBC’s queries.
The University of Chicago and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have also confirmed that their alumni have been arrested. A statement from UNSW to the BBC called for the matter to be resolved “with respect for legal principles and international human rights”.
Reporters Without Borders noted that four of the detainees, including Le Sicci, were journalists, and called their arrests “another strong message to those who believe that reporting factual information is dependent on the official narrative.” Should be given even if conflicted”.
Human Rights Watch said the incident shows that “young people in China are paying a heavy price for daring to speak out for freedom and human rights”, adding that Chinese authorities have threatened these lawyers and friends. who have tried to support the arrested persons.
