Jiang Tanyong was released two days ago after two months in prison without charges. His fellow lawyer, Liu Xiaoyuan, was also freed. Both are friends of Ai Weiwei, an artist currently held at an undisclosed location. The two lawyers were released in connection to a visit by important foreign dignitaries. Many more activists and lawyers remain however in jail or unaccounted for.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Jiang Tianyong and Liu Xiaoyuan, two lawyers detained by police for weeks without charges, are home. They were released before the arrival in China of important foreign officials. However, other lawyers who defended dissidents and human rights remain unaccounted for.

Jiang’s wife, Jin Bianling, told Chinese Human Rights Defenders on the phone that her husband arrived home on Tuesday after a two-month absence.

"He is okay, a bit thinner than before and is in reasonably good spirits," she said. When asked about possible torture, she said that it was "not convenient" to speak any further.

For Yang Zili, another dissident, Jiang’s freedom is still limited.

Liu Xiaoyuan, a friend of detained artist Ai Weiwei, was held in custody for only five days. He too was released on Tuesday. He refused to talk about how he was treated but confirmed that police did not explain to him why he was detained.

Many believe that he was taken into custody after Ai’s arrest for providing the latter’s family with legal advice. Despite his arrest, he said he was still prepared to defend Ai, who also disappeared weeks ago on unspecified charges.

Analysts believe that the release of the two lawyers is connected to yesterday’s arrival in Beijing of ten US senators who are on visit to discuss trade and finance with Vice-Premier Wang Qishan.

Washington had previously called on Beijing to release Jiang and stop extralegal arrests of lawyers and human rights activists.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard also arrived in Beijing. She too urged China not to take “backward steps” on human rights.

Since mid-February, police have been on high alert against possible Jasmine Revolution-style unrest.

Hundreds of human rights activists, pro-democracy advocates and their lawyers have been arrested.

Many have simply “vanished” for weeks. They include Teng Biao, Liu Shihui, Tang Jingling, Liu Zhengqing and Li Tiantian.

Teng’s wife, Wang Ling, has repeatedly asked police for information on his whereabouts, only to be told “to wait”.

CHRD released a report that documents the formal arrest of 39 activists, lawyers and internet uses, 18 of whom are still unaccounted for.

The report is available at http://chrdnet.org/2011/04/15/jasmine_crackdown/.

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