The characterization of the charges is that of Timothy Cooper, International Director of the Free China Movement. The presence and detention of Dr. Wang in China is either inexplicable, or in dispute. How he came to be in China is beyond even the Associated Press, which called Wang's "a bizarre saga that involved allegations of cross-border kidnapping and hostages found tied up in a temple."

"Cross-border kidnapping" is the allegation raised by Wang's compatriot Chinese pro-democracy dissidents. "Hostages found tied up in a temple" is the story of the Chinese government. At the China Support Network, Executive Director John Kusumi notes, "Dr. Wang had a ticket for a July 3, 2002 return to the U.S. from Vietnam. He should, by all rights, be here in the United States now. How did he cross the border from Vietnam into China? Not of his own free will. That is not in question, nor is it a question of whom you believe. Both the dissidents and the government call it a kidnapping -- only, the dissidents say the government did it. Leave aside the question of who did it, and either way, Dr. Wang was snatched. He is a U.S. permanent resident and is illicitly in China to begin with."

A December, 2002 report by China's Xinhua news agency suggested that a "kidnap gang" had demanded $10 million ransom for Dr. Wang and two companions who were snatched with him. China's report came six months after the abduction, at which time the dissidents' families stated they "had never heard of" a $10 million demand. That December report was also a reversal on the part of China, which had previously denied any knowledge of the 'Democracy 3' as the hostages came to be known. In the December report, China admitted that it had them in custody since July 3, 2002, including Dr. Wang Bingzhang.

The charges, termed by dissidents to be false and politically motivated, include acts of "terrorism," marking the first time that China has applied that charge to pro-democracy dissidents.

"The forcible detention of a U.S. permanent resident, outside of its jurisdiction, was China's international crime at the outset. There should be no need to answer these charges, but China's story is flimsy on that front as well," said Kusumi, who continued, "They've got allegations, but no incidents. Citing Xinhua, Reuters reported that Wang was supposed to have ordered bombings and assassinations for China's National Day in 1999. Reuters proceeded to note, 'No such incidents were reported that year.'

"Another allegation concerned a plot in Thailand. But as we read the reports, Thailand never heard of such plot." Kusumi concluded, "Go figure -- families never heard of $10 million. Reuters never heard of bombings and assassinations. Thailand never heard of a plot in that country. China is spinning a yarn, and we all know why they really caught him -- because he is a tall and leading figure in the Chinese pro-democracy movement."

At the Free China Movement, Timothy Cooper said, "We believe that he is innocent of all charges that he's been convicted of, and we believe he should be freed." The sentence itself, a life term in prison, has shocked the pro-democracy community, and has been termed "an affront to the conscience of humanity and to freedom-loving nations of the world," and characterized as abusive and shameful. "China¡¯s imposition of such an abusive sentence shames not only China but those nations that do business as usual with China," said Cooper.

The Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS) released a statement praising Dr. Wang Bingzhang, and called upon "all Chinese students and scholars and all Chinese who live in US and China to appreciate the ideal of democracy and those who have spent their time and energy to promote this ideal including Dr. Wang Bingzhang."

A joint statement of the democracy movement said, "We demand that Dr. Wang be set free. We urge the United States to do everything within its power to work for his immediate release. China must hear from the community of democratic nations around the world, calling for his freedom today."

Transferred from China Support Network (CSN)