Kerry among senators urging China to release dissident

[TayTay]

Clinton, Kerry among senators urging China to release dissident
AFX International ProFeed 06-16-2005


BEIJING (AFX) - Hillary Clinton and John Kerry are among 40 US senators who have sent a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao calling on him to free high-profile dissident Yang Jianli amid torture claims.

In the bipartisan letter, a copy of which was obtained by Agence France-Presse, the senators described how 41-year-old US resident Yang had been 'allegedly beaten and tortured by four prison guards with electrified wands.'

'We strongly urge your government to exercise its discretion, in accordance with Chinese law, to release Dr Yang,' said the letter, which was dated yesterday Washington time.

'We believe a decision to release Dr Yang would be welcomed by all of those who seek to improve the bilateral relationship between the United States and China,' it said.

The Chinese foreign ministry said it took the senators' concerns 'very seriously.'

'We have communications with the US side, including with the senators, on a frequent basis to deepen mutual understanding,' ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular briefing.

[whometense]

1. His family lives

in my town. http://www.yangjianli.com/news/brooklineTab20050421_en.htm

There's a good reason why Kerry would be involved.