[Press Release] Public Announcement by the Foundation for China in the 21st Century on the Bestowing of the First “Award to Victims’ Families” to
Ms. Chen Mingxian
Foundation for China in the 21st Century
June 4, 2005
In China where dictatorship continues to rule, those oppressed by the police and state prisons are not only those
prisoners of conscience, but also their families—their spouses, parents and children. Before political prisoners
were arrested, their family members lived in fear and shared the burdens of life; after their arrest, these family
members live in pain, anguish, isolation and increased hardships. They have to keep the families going, wipe their
tears and continue to provide practical and moral support for their loved ones behind bars. Throughout human
history where people resisted and fought tyrannies, family members of prisoners of conscience have always provided
the best environment for the development of human conscience.
In order to show the world its respect and support for the spouses and other family members of prisoners of
conscience in China, the Foundation for China in the 21st Century established the "Award to Victims' Families" on
June 4, 2005. Through Foundation board members' personal contributions and other fundraising avenues, the Foundation will offer this award to the spouse or another family member of a prisoner of conscience once every six months or a year. The award recipient will be nominated by at least two prominent scholars. This nomination will then be discussed by the board members of the Foundation. The nomination must be approved by a majority vote of the Foundation's board members.
We are pleased to announce that, nominated by Mr. Ren Bumei and Yongyi Song and approved by the majority of the Foundation's board members, Ms. Chen Ming has become the first recipient of the "Award to Victims' Families." We would like to extend our salute and warmest congratulations to Ms. Chen Mingxian.
Ms. Chen Ming is currently a middle school teacher in the Sui Ning City of Sichuan Province. Her husband Mr. Liu Xianbin is an outstanding pro-democracy activist in China. Back in 1989 when Mr. Liu was still a student in the School of Human Resources Management of the People's University in Beijing, he actively participated in the 1989 pro-democracy movement. After the 1989 June 4 Massacre, Mr. Liu was put behind bars and served a 2.5 years jail sentence. Upon his release from the prison, he continued to engage in pro-democracy activities. He was arrested again in August 1999 by the Chinese authorities on charges of "subverting the state" and was sentenced to a 13-year imprisonment. After Mr. Liu began to serve this long sentence, Ms. Chen Mingxian has not only single-handedly shouldered the responsibilities of raising their daughter, but also tried very hard to take care of her husband's prison needs with her very meager income. Ms. Chen has never been involved with her husband's political activities, but she has been very understanding of her husband's ideals and cause, especially after her husband became imprisoned. She alone has been coping with the injustice and the hardships that the state has imposed on her, but none of this has shaken her love for her husband and her passion for justice.
Behind every hero there is another. We believe that it is humanity's duty and responsibility to express compassion and support for anyone who has to endure such injustice and hardships. Our efforts and contributions may be very modest, but they send a clear message that we are doing out utmost to stand by the innocent victims and their family members. In so doing, we are standing by basic human rights and conscience. We are honored today to offer the first "Award to Victims' Families" to Ms. Chen Mingxian. We would also like to take this opportunity to urge the Chinese government to provide humane treatment to political prisoners and their family members, quickly release Mr. Liu Xianbin and other political prisoners, and provide an environment where all political and academic dissidents and their family members can enjoy their basic human rights including freedom from fear.
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