Also since that time, the Chinese government has denied any knowledge of their case and whereabouts. In an about face, China's Xinhua news agency has now revealed new information about the matter.

According to Xinhua, the three reported being kidnapped on June 27 in Tinh Quang Ninh, Vietnam, and being blackmailed for 10 million US dollars. The report does not indicate who were the original kidnappers and blackmailers. A spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security said the kidnapping case is still under investigation. The "Democracy 3" hostages reported being blindfolded and transported from place to place, for being unable to pay the ransom.

Chinese authorities then found them tied up in a temple on the night of July 3. They were found by local Guangxi police. Their location at that time was reported to be Bohu Temple in the suburbs of Fangchenggang city, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Wang Bingzhang, a U.S. national, was transferred to police in Guangdong, and all of the "Democracy 3" captives were held under house arrest. A formal arrest of Wang Bingzhang was made by Guangdong police on December 5. His travelling companions, Zhang Qi and Yue Wu, are said to have been cleared of all charges and freed.

It appears that Chinese authorities plan to hold and try Wang Bingzhang, a high profile figure and hero of the Chinese democracy movement.

Wang, 54, began speaking out against the system at the start of the Cultural Revolution and was jailed in 1966 and 1967. Reaching Canada in 1979, he became a leading exiled dissident.

In the early 1980s, he moved to New York and started a magazine, China Spring, that circulated to students and activists around the Asian nation, and he launched the Chinese Alliance for Democracy. He continues to be U.S.-based, and has four children who are U.S. citizens.

He made headlines in 1998 when he sneaked into China to organize an opposition Chinese Democracy and Justice Party to press for free elections and civil liberties. After three weeks, he was caught and deported.

Now, the Xinhua news agency reports this story with the headline, "Accused spy Wang Bingzhang arrested." Their charges against him at this time include spying for Taiwan, stealing state secrets, and charges relating to "violent terrorist activities."

At the China Support Network, Executive Director John Kusumi expressed dismay and incredulity about the charges. "While I am not versed on specifics of a crime as charged, I would be surprised if one exists. It is not in the character of the Chinese democracy movement to resort to violence and terrorism. I have thanked and praised this movement for keeping a level head, remaining peaceful and non-violent in the face of repeated provocations from the CCP regime. That non-violent character keeps theirs a worthy cause and charity, on a higher plane than some other movements for change."

At the Free China Movement (FCM), reaction went several steps further. With a sense of exhoneration, Executive Director Lian Shengde said the Xinhua report "confirms our accusation of July 22, that they were kidnapped by Chinese agents." Further, "the near 6 months of hiding the truth and lying to the international community clearly describes the true character of this rogue nation, China. FCM leaders across the globe unanimously condemn this serious violation of international laws of PRC by kidnapping dissident leaders and holding them as hostages for such a long time."

As for the criminal charges against Wang Bingzhang, Lian said, "The charge against Dr. Wang is baseless and we demand immediate release of Dr. Wang and the other two."

Mr. Lian gave his overall synopsis, saying, "Upon strong international pressure the PRC dared not to execute the three secretly and made up the story in the Xinhua report that they were kidnapped by someone unknown." For some time, the Free China Movement has claimed intelligence confirming that the three are in the hands of China, not Vietnam. "Their reports are now vindicated," notes Mr. Kusumi. "This week now has two stories where the Free China Movement can say 'we told you so' to a Western press that has been quiet about covering their stories."

Transferred from China Support Network (CSN)