Australian Writers Condemn China’s Censorship Attempt

The Sydney affiliate of International PEN issued a statement to condemn China’s latest attempt to force the organiser of the Melbourne Film Festival to remove The Ten Conditions of Love from its 2009 program.  Sydney PEN also appealed for the imminent release of Chinese PEN member Liu Xiaobo and Uighur PEN centre member Iham Tohti.  Liu Xiaobo has been formally arrested in June after in detention for more than six months and is now awaiting trial.  Iham Tohti has disappeared and is believed to have been detained for blogging about the Urumqi riot.

Trailer of The Ten Conditions of Love

Sydney PEN’s statement reads:

Sydney PEN condemns censorship attempt; congratulates Melbourne Film Festival

Sydney PEN, the influential body of writers and readers devoted to freedom of expression, has congratulated the Melbourne International Film Festival for its firm stance against Chinese attempts to censor its 2009 festival program.

Melbourne International Film Festival director, Richard Moore, revealed this week how an official from the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne telephoned him, demanding he withdraw the documentary, The 10 Conditions of Love, from his festival this month. The film profiles the Uighur businesswoman and leader in exile, Rebiya Kadeer. The Chinese government describes Kadeer as a terrorist and blames her for instigating the deadly ethnic riots in Xinjiang this month.

Sydney PEN president, Virginia Lloyd, condemned the Chinese Consulate’s attempt to censor the festival. “We congratulate Mr Moore for holding firm against this objectionable pressure,” she said.

Dr Lloyd said China’s harsh stance on free speech in its own country was well documented, with 47 writers currently imprisoned there because of their writing and political views – more than any other country in the world. However, for Chinese diplomatic staff to demand censorship of free speech within Australia was a disturbing development, she said. Such attempts must be vigorously rejected.

Dr Lloyd said the attempt to censor the Melbourne screening of the documentary was of deep concern.

“In Australia we are extremely fortunate to enjoy a high degree of free expression. However, attempts are often made to curtail this, in overt and subtle ways. We must be vigilant against censorship in all its forms, and vocal in demanding that our freedom of expression be protected,” said Dr Lloyd.

“Working with our colleagues at International PEN, our members seek the release of many imprisoned Chinese writers. Currently these include the leading writer, dissident and literary critic, Liu Xiaobo, who after six months in detention without charge or trial was formally arrested in Beijing on June 23 and charged with ‘inciting subversion of state power’. Along with human rights organisations around the world, we are calling for Liu Xiaobo’s immediate release.”

PEN is also deeply concerned by the detention of Uighur writer, academic and member of the Uighur PEN Centre, Iham Tohti, who was reportedly arrested in Beijing on 6 July 2009. He had spoken out on the ethnic unrest which broke out in Urumqi on 5 July.

The Australian: On Liu Xiaobo

Today’s The Australian published Liu Xiaobo’s last interview with foreign press shortly before his arrest:

www.pen.org

China’s most famous dissident, the courtly, professorial Liu Xiaobo, 53, was taken by security officers from his home in Beijing last December and held incommunicado for six months, mostly in a room without windows at a secret location.

Last week he was shifted to a detention centre and charged with inciting subversion of state power, the crime for which other dissidents, such as activist Hu Jia, also have been sentenced. For those found guilty, the maximum penalty is 15 years.

His plight was highlighted by the Australian government at its annual human rights dialogue with China and, since his formal arrest, Australia has joined the EU, the US and other nations in risking Beijing’s wrath by calling for his release.

Liu’s last interview before his arrest was with The Australian. “No matter how rich a society is, as long as it is ruled by a privileged class (that) gains its wealth from an unbalanced and opaque system, there will be strong discontent,” he said.

“And any defence of this group’s economic interests will evolve into a defence of its political rights.”

Please follow this LINK to the full report.

UPDATE

Radio Free Asia confirms that Liu Xiaobo’s bail application has  been formally refused by the Beijing Security Bureau.

Green Leader Bob Brown Sought Australian Senate Support for Liu Xiaobo

guardian.co.uk

Senator Bob Brown called on the Australian government to exert pressure on China regarding the formal arrest of Liu Xiaobo.  The following is an excerpt of the relevant sections from the Senate debate on Thursday June 25 between Brown and Australian Defense Minister John Faulkner.

Brown: My question, with almost no notice, is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to the plight of the famed Chinese democrat Liu Xiaobo, who is coauthor of the Charter 08 declaration, which calls for freedom, civil rights and human decency in China. He has been under arrest for six months and has now been formally arrested and charged with trying to spread rumours, subversion of the state and overthrowing the socialist system. I ask the government: will it make a stand for Liu Xiaobo and democracy in China? What representations have been made to the government about the plight of this extraordinarily courageous advocate for democracy in China and what news can be given to the Senate about the plight of this great and noble person?

www.pen.org

Faulkner: I thank Senator Brown for his question. Certainly I can say to Senator Brown— through you, Mr President—that I am aware, as is the government of course, of the reports that China has now confirmed the arrest of the internationally acclaimed author Liu Xiaobo on grounds of subversion. I can certainly say to the Senate that Australia again calls for his release. The Australian government encourages China to address the concerns raised by the authors of Charter 08. I can also assure the Senate, and Senator Brown particularly, that the government will continue to make representations to China on the detention of Charter 08 signatories and others who were exercising internationally recognised liberties including freedom of speech.

Australia will continue to engage frankly with China on questions of human rights, including higher level meetings through the Australia-China Human Rights Dialogue. I say also, as I think I have said before, that we believe the best way to encourage China to make further progress on human rights issues is through those channels, and the government has encouraged that as opposed to—(Time expired).

Brown: Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I ask Senator Faulkner at what level the contact has been made with China. Has, indeed, the Prime Minister rung his counterpart in China and spoken in Mandarin about the plight of Liu Xiaobo? If not, will he? If not, at what level is the contact? Is it simply going to be at official-to-official level, as we have so often seen with Australian governments, that this contact will be made? Finally, I ask: why did the government not support the Greens’ motion in this place two weeks ago condemning Liu Xiaobo’s arrest and detention? Does the government not think that was some sort of comfort to the Beijing authorities, who now have him up on these charges?

Faulkner: Senator Brown, I am unable specifically to answer your question that goes to the level of contact. I can only seek some advice on that for you. I certainly can say more generally to you—and I hope this assists you—that the Australian government regularly raises its concerns on human rights and does so directly with China’s leaders. I know that, for example, the Minister for Foreign Affairs raised our human rights concerns with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in March this year during the Australian foreign minister’s visit to Beijing; I know he raised those concerns with Mr Yang in February and July 2008; and I know the Prime Minister raised human rights concerns in his meetings with Chinese leaders in April this year and in April and August of last year.

Brown: Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Many Australians will laud the Australian government for having called in the representative of Iran over the current actions in that country in repressing democracy. I ask the minister— through you, Chair—whether the government will consider calling in the ambassador from China to seek an explanation and to express Australia’s position on the arrest of Liu Xiaobo and the obviously fraught position that this great man now faces in China.

Faulkner: I think I have indicated a strong statement of concern on behalf of the government.  I will need to check for Senator Brown what the immediate plans are in relation to the specific question that he raises, but I can assure you that the government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continue to raise concerns about human rights issues with representatives in Canberra and Beijing. I will need to seek some further advice for you, Senator Brown, on the specific issue you have raised and, if I am able to get some information soon, I am very happy to certainly provide it to you at the earliest available opportunity.

Later when Senate resumed,

Faulkner: I want to respond to some elements of the supplementary questions that Senator Bob Brown asked me in question time today.

I have sought some advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It may be recalled that Senator Brown asked me at what level representations were made regarding the arrest of Liu Xiaobo. I can indicate to Senator Brown that these were made through our Beijing embassy to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, initially at councillor and first secretary level, and subsequently followed up on several occasions at councillor and first secretary level.

I have also been advised, in response to the question raised by Senator Brown in relation to calling in the Chinese ambassador, that the answer at this stage is no. The government considers the most appropriate avenue on this occasion will be through diplomatic channels in China, registering our concerns directly with the Chinese authorities in Beijing …

Unfortunately, the Senate was not able to pass Mr Brown’s motion in its current format.  However, the President of the Senate had directed Mr Brown to liaise with his Senate colleagues to find ways of achieving bipartisan support for Liu Xiaobo’s case.

Petition for the Release of Liu Xiaobo

www.pen.org

I mentioned in yesterday’s post that a group of Chinese intellectuals have signed a petition for the release of Liu Xiaobo.  I’ve also learnt today that some Tibetan community leaders are appealing to members of their communities in China and abroad to sign the petition in support of Liu.  Here is a LINK to the online petition.

So far a total of 54 Chinese residents have put their names down.  This include famous scholars such as Xu Youyu, Mou Yushi, Qin Hui, Zhang Ming, Cui Weiping, Ai Xiaoming, Li Datong and Fu Guoyong; a Beijing based lawyer and a legal scholar; as well as writers such as Zhang Ping, Wang Lixiong, Woeser and Liu Di.

I salute these brave Chinese people for their courage.

Liu Xiaobo’s First Meeting with his Lawyer

Pro-democracy lawmakers and activities hold the picture of Liu Xiaobo protest outside the China's liaison office in Hong Kong Thursday, June 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Liu Xiaobo was eventually allowed to meet with his lawyer.  Liu’s lawyer Shang Baojun said that the meeting took place at around 3.15pm on 26 June at the Beijing Number 1 Detention Centre.   It lasted for approximately 40 minutes.

Shang found out from Liu Xiaobo that he had been detained in a house with no windows since December last year.  He was not even allowed to go outside to stretch his legs.  According to PRC legislation, under no circumstances should house arrests be extended beyond six months.  In other words, from 8 June to 23 June, Liu Xiaobo had been illegally detained.

Liu refuted the claim of a recent Xinhua press release that he had confessed to the crime of inciting subversion.  During the course of interrogation, Liu had only made two admissions: (1) He was the main contributor to the drafting of Charter 08; and (2) he had published more than 20 essays via the Internet.  However, Liu Xiaobo was adamant that none of these were illegal activities.  Nor could they be construed as inciting subversion.

Liu apologised through his lawyer to his wife and family for the suffering that they had to endure.  However he expressed no regret for his commitment to a free and democratic China.  Liu also thanked his friends in China and abroad for their support.  Liu hoped that his claim of full responsibility for Charter 08 would prevent others from sustaining further political persecutions.

According to Liu Xiaobo’s lawyer, a bail application had been filed on 25 June.  A formal reply is expected latest by next Thursday.

Source: Canyu (via Chinese Pen)

Meanwhile, a group of more than 50 intellectuals in China has signed a petition calling for the immediate release of Liu Xiaobo and the proper implementation of freedom of speech rights as stipulated in the PRC Constitution.

Source: AP (via Google News)

Liu Xiaobo Met with His Wife

Liu Xiaobo’s wife Liu Xia 刘霞 was granted a short visit to her husband in custody on 1 January 2009, according to Liu’s lawyer Mo Shaoping 莫少平 in an interview with Radio Free Asia.  Liu has been detained since 12 December 2008 in connection with his role in the drafting, signing and disseminating of Charter 08.  The following is my translation of relevant sections in the RFA report:

More Charter 08 Casualties: Bullog Purged, Ran Yunfei Suspended

Bullog 牛博网, a progressive blog portal, becomes the next victim of a purge that has swept across the blogosphere in China since the release of Charter 08.  As a result, Bullog lost two of its most popular bloggers: Ran Yunfei 冉云飞 and Baozuitun 饱醉豚 (literally translated as the Gluttonous Suckling Pig).  It is believed that both bloggers were suspended for publishing articles about the Charter.  Ran Yunfei is also among the first group of 303 signatories.

It is regrettable how Luo Yonghao 罗永浩, the owner of Bullog, once considered a very “bull” (Chinese Internet jargon for “cool”) blogger himself, had to succumb to pressure from the CCP censors in order to protect his site from closure. 

More arrests over 08 Charter

Sources from the Roman Catholic Church confirmed that Shanghai lawyer Zheng Enchong 郑恩宠 and Guangzhou university professor Ai Xiaoming 艾晓明 had been detained by the Chinese authorities in charge of public security.  The AsiaNews report says:

Arrests continue for signers of “Charter 08,” the document calling upon the government for greater democracy and respect for human rights, including religious freedom. Since yesterday, Zheng Enchong, a lawyer from Shanghai known for his help for citizens against abusive expropriation by the authorities, has been under house arrest.

One of his relatives tells the newspaper South China Morning Post that on December 10, Zheng was summoned by the police, interrogated for more than four hours, and then sent home, where he will not be permitted to go out or use the telephone.

Also on the night of the 10th, the police in Guangzhou searched the home of Professor Ai Xiaoming (in the photo) and took her away. Xiaoming teaches Chinese studies at Sun Yat-sen University, and makes documentaries about the plight of the poor and disadvantaged groups.

Other signers who have been questioned over their role in the drafting and disseminating of the Charter include Independent Chinese Pen members Wen Kejian 温克坚, Zhao Dagong 赵达功, Jiang Qisheng 江棋生, Qin Geng 秦耕 and Liu Yiming 刘逸明. Others who have been interrogated by the police are: civil rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang 浦志强, writer Gao Yu 高瑜, spokesperson for June Fourth victims’ family Zhang Xianling 张先玲 and Internet writer Liu Di 刘荻.  Yu Jie 余杰, who was visiting the USA on the day of Liu Xiaobo’s arrest, told Radio Free Asia that the police barricaded his house.

Liu Xiaobo Detained on Suspicion of “Inciting Subversion of State Power”

Please click here to join our discussion about the content of the 08 Charter

Less than 10 days ago, I wrote this post about Beijing police forcibly stopped prominent dissident writer Liu Xiaobo 刘晓波 from attending a Transition Institute seminar.  A few days later when I wrote about Jiang Yiping’s removal from the Southern Metropolis Daily, I foreshadowed a major crackdown targeting prominent dissidents.  The prediction is coming true even faster than I expect.  Liu Xiaobo was arrested late last night on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power”.  Here are the links to the Human Rights in China announcement about Liu’s arrest: in Chinese and in English.  Another human rights activist Zhang Zuhua (张祖桦) was also detained for interrogation and was released 12 hours later.

It is understood that Liu’s arrest is related to an open letter issued by a group of 303 Chinese writers, intellectuals, lawyers, journalists, retired Party officials, workers, peasants, and businessmen in commemoration of the 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The letter, known as 08 Charter 零八宪章, makes 19 recommendations in its call for democracy in China.  These recommendations include:

Beijing Police Stopped Liu Xiaobo from Attending Seminar

Beijing-based dissident writer Liu Xiaobo 刘晓波 was forcibly stopped by the Police when he was on the way to attend a Transition Institute 传知行研究所 seminar.  Liu was a guest speaker for the Institute’s regular Saturday meeting last weekend.  He planned to give a lecture on tragedy in literature.

A Radio Free Asia reporter attempted without success in his effort to verify the story with the Public Security Office in Beijing.

In a subsequent interview with RFA, Liu Xiaobo confirmed that he had been receiving phone calls from the Police since last Tuesday.