30-7-2023 (BEIJING) Renowned Chinese human rights lawyer, Lu Siwei, has been apprehended in Laos while en route to Thailand, raising concerns among activists and family members that he may face deportation back to China, potentially leading to imprisonment.
The arrest occurred on Friday morning when Lao police intercepted Lu Siwei as he was boarding a train bound for Thailand. His reported intention was to travel to Bangkok, from where he planned to catch a flight to the United States to reunite with his wife and daughter, as stated in The Associated Press report.
His wife, Zhang Chunxiao, expressed deep concern about her husband’s safety, noting that if he is sent back to China, he could face imprisonment. Despite inquiries, the Chinese foreign ministry has yet to provide any comments on the matter.
Lu Siwei has a history of taking on sensitive cases and defending individuals who have been targeted by Chinese authorities for their political views. In 2021, he and a colleague had their legal licenses revoked after representing the “Hong Kong 12,” a group of activists who sought to escape the territory following the implementation of China’s sweeping national security law. Some of these activists were already facing charges related to the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.
Later that year, Lu Siwei was prevented from leaving China to take part in a visiting fellowship in the United States. In contrast, his wife and daughter successfully resettled in the United States.
Bob Fu, the founder of ChinaAid, a religious rights group based in Texas, disclosed that Lu’s family had contacted him two weeks prior seeking assistance in facilitating his escape from China. ChinaAid had previously aided over 60 Chinese Christians in resettling in Texas after they were detained in Pattaya for visa overstay.
The incident involving Lu’s arrest on Lao soil highlights Beijing’s pursuit of critics beyond its borders, forming part of a broader clampdown that has instilled fear among Chinese dissidents. Two activists working with ChinaAid were accompanying Lu at the time of his arrest. Police also briefly confiscated one activist’s passport before returning it.
Chinese dissidents attempting to escape the reach of the Chinese state have reported facing harassment in other Southeast Asian countries as well. One such case involved the family of an individual detained by Thai police after bomb threats were made under their name.
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— Raja Barman. (@RajaBar16891293) July 29, 2023
