World Bulletin/News Desk

Jun Tao Wung, a Chinese dissident, locks himself up in a cage at the Times Square in New York to support a political prisoner in China which is accused of gross human rights violations by international organizations.

Tao Wung who put himself behind bars 25 days ago said he launched such a protest to increase pressure over China for releasing Wang Bingzhang, a worldwide known Chinese dissident.

He told an Anadolu Agency correspondent that Wang supported him 22 years ago when he faced a similar situation. Saying that Wang, a doctor, is in prison more than 11 years and living under hard conditions, Tao Wung wants Wang Bingzhang to be released from prison. “I am here due to China’s stance on democracy.”

Tao Wung said he was also imprisoned for 24 years in 1991 due to protest at the Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

“When I was in jail, Wang was in New York and launched many demonstrations and created international awareness for my release. I gained my freedom after spending 4.5 years behind the bars because of his effort. Now, it is my turn. I will do whatever necessary for his release,” he said.

Wang completed his Ph.D. in 1982 at Canada in which he established a magazine named as 'China Spring' to back pro-democracy movement in his home country. Later, he traveled back to China and co-founded two political parties in 1989 and 1998. The latter led him to be arrested by the authorities, and he was forced to leave the country. In June 2002, he was abducted in Vietnam. In February 2003, a Chinese court jailed Wang for life, on charges of espionage and terrorism.