Peng Lifa (Chinese: 彭立发; pinyin: Péng Lìfā; born January 7, 1974[1]) is a Chinese democracy activist who initiated the Beijing Sitong Bridge protest in October 2022. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023.[3][4]
Peng Lifa | |
|---|---|
彭立发 | |
| Born | January 7, 1974[1] Heilongjiang, China |
| Disappeared | October 13, 2022 Haidian, Beijing, China |
| Status | Missing for 2 years, 2 months and 7 days |
| Other names | Peng Zaizhou (online name)[2] |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Beijing Sitong Bridge protest |
| Spouse | Han Yang[2] |
| Children | 2[2] |
| Honours | named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023 |
Career and activism
edit
Peng worked for an acrylic products firm called Beijing Melon Network Technology Co., Ltd.[5] He wrote articles on electromagnetism.[5]
On October 13, 2022, Peng initiated the Beijing Sitong Bridge protest by posting a banner on the Sitong Bridge.[6] Peng Lifa draped protest banners from Beijing's Sitong Bridge. They unfurled to reveal exhortations against China's zero-COVID policy, calling it a violation of freedom of expression and demanding real elections and political reform.
Peng Lifa further challenged Xi on October 13, 2022, by shouting through a loudspeaker, "We want to eat. We want freedom. We want votes!." He is suspected to have been detained by the police.[5] His slogans spread across the country with comparisons being made between Peng and the Tank Man.[6] His act was described by BBC News as "one of the most significant acts of Chinese protest seen under Mr Xi's rule."[7]
Though the New York Times published an article on December 7, 2022 naming him "Peng Lifa," the protester's identity has not been confirmed.[7] However, some believe him to be an academic physicist and have flooded a Twitter account assumed to be linked to the protester with messages of admiration.[7] The Wall Street Journal and Radio Free Asia reported that some activists believed the protester to be Peng Lifa, also known as Peng Zaizhou, a 48-year-old physics enthusiast.[8][9]
In April 2023, Peng was named to the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world for his pro-democracy activism.[10][11]
Fate
editAs of October 2023[update], according to sources familiar with the case cited by VOA, Peng Lifa remained in detention at a location described as unknown.[2]
Peng Lifa's family continues to face significant government scrutiny and control. His close family members are under constant surveillance and have not been provided with any legal documents related to his case. Despite efforts, his relatives and friends have been unable to hire a lawyer to provide him with legal assistance.[2]
Peng Lifa's wife and daughters are under strict government surveillance, with their every move accompanied by government personnel. Their daily commutes to work and school are arranged by the authorities, and their personal cell phones have been confiscated — ostensibly for "protection" — and replaced with government-issued phones. Peng's siblings have been summoned to the local police station for questioning. His father-in-law, previously a small business owner, has been reassigned by the Public Security Bureau to work and live in a small factory, where he remains under surveillance. His mother-in-law is also believed to be under surveillance. In addition, his two sisters-in-law, the husband of one of them, and his brother-in-law have been questioned at their workplaces.[2]
Personal life
editPeng was born in 1974 in Heilongjiang.[6][5] As of October 2023[update], his wife and two daughters, both of whom have been described as minors, all reside in Beijing. His brothers and sisters are farmers in Tailai, Heilongjiang Province, and his parents have both passed away due to illness.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "迎来50岁生日 "四通桥勇士"彭立发仍遭秘密羁押" [Celebrating his 50th birthday, 'Sittong Bridge Warrior' Peng Lifa remains in secret detention] (in Chinese). Deutsche Welle. 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ye, Bing (2023-10-12). "Protester Who Unfurled Anti-Xi Messages from Beijing Bridge Still Detained Year Later". Voice of America. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ^ "Time 100". Time. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Reporter, Micah McCartney China News (2023-10-25). "Beijing's 'Bridge Man' protester Peng Lifa leaves legacy in China". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
- ^ a b c d "Peng Lifa (彭立发)". Chinese Human Rights Defenders. December 29, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
- ^ a b c Yuan, Li (2022-12-07). "China's Protest Prophet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
- ^ a b c "China congress: How one man on a bridge marred Xi Jinping's big moment". BBC News. October 21, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ Fan, Wenxin; Lu, Shen (October 22, 2022). "Beijing Protester's Battle Cry Sends Ripples Worldwide". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ "Chinese police pressure family of U.S.-based student over support for "Bridge Man"". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ Weiwei, Ai (2023-04-13). "Peng Lifa: The 100 Most Influential People of 2023". Time. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
- ^ Hu, Yuli (April 14, 2023). "時代雜誌百大影響力人物 關繼威、周受資等5華人上榜" [Time magazine's top 100 influential figures Guan Jiwei, Zhou Shouzi and other 5 Chinese are on the list]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-04-15.