Under the Jacaranda Tree » Liu Xiaobo

Charter 08 Signatories Called for the Release of Liu Xiaobo

C.A. Yeung — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:04:57 +0000

A year ago, on 8 December 2008, Liu Xiaobo was detained on suspicion of inciting subversion of State power. Hours later, Charter 08, a document that Liu helped to draft, was released online. Charter 08, signed initially by 303 prominent Chinese citizens, calls for 19 changes to improve human rights situation in China. Since then more than eight thousand people around the world have signed the Charter.

In spite of straight censorship the Chinese ruling regime has imposed on the dissemination of information about the Charter, news continue to leak out about Chinese citizens commemorating the first anniversary of the release of the document. There are also renewed calls for support from the international community to secure the release of Liu Xiaobo.

The following is a report by Sun Wenguang, one of the original 303 Charter 08 signatories. Here Sun wrote about a seminar held in Shandong province to mark the first anniversary. The English translation is mine. Apart from calling for the release of Liu Xiaobo, the seminar also discussed an item in Charter 08, namely “the nationalisation of the Chinese military”. My co-blogger Ned Kelly asks me to add a note here for the benefit of readers who are unfamiliar with the history of the People’s Republic of China. Unlike in most countries, China’s military establishment, or the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is the military arm of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It is under the command of the Central Military Commission of the CCP. The Chinese Ministry of National Defence, which operates under the State Council, does not exercise any authority over the PLA.

【孙文广：山东各界纪念《08宪章》一周年】

Shandong Signatories met to commemorate the Anniversary of Charter 08

By Sun Wenguang

零八宪章，公布一周年前夕，山东济南、泰安、聊城、烟台、签署宪章的各界人士十余人，聚会纪念。

A group of over 10 signatories gathered a day before the first anniversary of the release of Charter 08 to commemorate the event. They were from various regions in Shandong province, including Jinan, Taian, Liaocheng and Yantai.

会上发言的有：车宏年、史若平、李世骏、孙文广、秦志刚、李红卫、鲁扬、李对龙等，他们指出：

The speakers at the Seminar were: Che Hongnian, Shi Ruoping, Li Shijun, Sun Wenguang, Qin Zhigang, Li Hongwei, Lu Yang and Li Duilong. The speakers affirmed:

零八宪章，是六四之后，一个最重要的集体创作，表达了关于人权、民主、自由、法制的诉求。08宪章签署者受到公安的调查时，纷纷表达了对08宪章的认同，没有一个人表示后悔！或撤销签署。

“Charter 08 is the most important collective declaration since June 4th 1989. It expresses a demand for human rights, democracy, freedom and rule of law. The Charter 08 signatories, even after being subjected to investigation by National Security agencies, have unanimously confirmed their support for Charter 08. No one has expressed regret or has revoked his signature.”

与会者一致要求，当局立即释放刘晓波先生！刘晓波先生组织08宪章的起草，这是是他个人的光荣记录！他为中国的民主运动，写下了光辉的一页。刘晓波先生，08年12月，被从家中带走，既无拘留证也无逮捕证，很长时间，不准律师介入！不准家属接…见，这都是程序违法！说明现在中国缺少司法正义！在中国呼吁司法正义的人，被剥夺了司法权利，呼唤自由的人，失去了自由，这既表明了08宪章的必要和及时，也表明了，在中国民主化的过程中，一批勇敢者，要付出代价！他们应该受到人们的尊重！

Those who attended the Seminar made a joint pleading for the immediate release of Mr Liu Xiaobo, the coordinator of the drafting of Charter 08. Mr Liu has made a remarkable personal achievement and has written a glorious page in the history of China’s struggle for democracy. Consequently he was taken away from home in December 2008. His arrest was illegal, because the Police failed to produce any warrant for his arrest and detention. For a very long time, Mr Liu had been denied his rights to meet with his lawyer and his family. The lack of legal justice in China becomes obvious when people who advocate the rule of law are deprived of legal rights, and when those who call for freedom are imprisoned. Mr Liu’s arrest explains why the release of Charter 08 is timely. It also reminds us of the price that many brave people have paid for the democratisation of China. These people deserve our respect.

会上，大明湖暴力拆迁的受害者李红卫，用她切身体会，控诉了当局是如何侵害她的个人财产权，她多次起诉都被驳回不予受理，她切身体会到司法正义的重要，！她的上访没有人理睬，她在公共场合表达民意，结果被带到了公安机关受到了关押！她用亲身的体会，说明零八宪章的重要性！他表示完全支持零八宪章关于人权，关于自由关于民主的诉求！

During the Seminar, Ms Li Hongwei, a victim of the Daming Lake forced evictions, came forward to tell her personal story. She told the audience how her property rights were violated, how her attempts to take legal action against the violators were repeatedly dismissed in court, how her petitions were ignored, and how she was taken away and locked up by the Police when she expressed her opinion in public. Her personal story testifies to the importance of legal justice; it also testifies to the importance of Charter 08! Ms Li expressed her unconditional support for those articles in Charter 08 that advocate human rights, freedom and democracy.

参会者，很多人都表达了，支持零八宪章关于军队国家化的论述，按照世界民主国家国的惯例，军队应该效忠于国家。最近一段时间，国内很多人在议论，中国如何实现军队国家化，认为这是中国实现民主化、法制化的重要前提，也是建立宪政的重要基础。

Many Seminar participants also expressed their support for the part of Charter 08 about the nationalisation of China’s military. It is a common practice in most countries to have military forces pledging loyalty to the Nation. Many recent discussions in China have come to the conclusion that the nationalisation of the military is a prerequisite, not just for the implementation of democracy and the rule of law, but also for the establishment of a constitutional government.

关于宪政的口号，关于民主自由的口号，是共产党在上世纪四十年代反复呼喊的口号！今天应该是实现这些口号的时候了！

Back in the 1940s, the Chinese Communist Party repeatedly shouted slogans about democracy, freedom and the need for a constitutional government. Today, it is time for these slogans to become a reality.

这次座谈会，开了约三个多小时。 2009年12月7日

The Seminar was held for approximately three hours on 7 December 2009.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: 08 Charter, Charter 08, China rule of law, freedom of speech, Internet censorship, Liu Xiaobo

Australian Writers Condemn China’s Censorship Attempt

C.A. Yeung — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:43:08 +0000

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.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: Australia, China, freedom of speech, Iham Tohti, Liu Xiaobo, Melbourne International Film Festival, Rebiya Kadeer, The 10 Conditions of Love, Uighur

The Australian: On Liu Xiaobo

C.A. Yeung — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:07:40 +0000

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.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: Australia, freedom of speech, Hu Jia, Liu Xiaobo

Green Leader Bob Brown Sought Australian Senate Support for Liu Xiaobo

C.A. Yeung — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:30:49 +0000

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.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: Australia, Bob Brown, China rule of law, freedom of speech, Liu Xiaobo, subversion of state power

Petition for the Release of Liu Xiaobo

C.A. Yeung — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:02:53 +0000

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.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: 08 Charter, Charter 08, freedom of speech, Liu Xiaobo

Liu Xiaobo’s First Meeting with his Lawyer

C.A. Yeung — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:09:37 +0000

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)

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: 08 Charter, Charter 08, freedom of speech, Liu Xiaobo, subversion of state power

Liu Xiaobo Met with His Wife

C.A. Yeung — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:27:29 +0000

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:

Liu Xiaobo’s lawyer Mo Shaoping told our reporter on 1 January that Liu Xia was summoned for questioning earlier on the same day at around 8.30 in the morning. When she arrived there, she was immediately escorted to the residential venue where Liu Xiaobo was detained for surveillance. They were granted a short meeting. The detaining of Liu Xiaobo at a separate residential venue for surveillance and the delay in informing family members about the detention are against the law, according to Mo Shaoping, who says:

“Liu Xia said that all of a sudden at 8.30 in the morning she was asked to go to the local police office for a chat. Public security there accompanied her to go to see Liu Xiaobo. She said that his physical condition was fine. Liu Xia could not recall the exact location of the venue, as she was taken there by public security officers. Liu Xiaobo’s status is now formally declared as under residential surveillance. It is probably in connection with the Charter 08 incident. According to law, residential surveillance should be conducted at one’s residence. Only someone without a resident permit in this city will be assigned a place of detention. It is therefore against the law to take Liu Xiaobo away from home for residential surveillance. The fact that there is a delay in informing Liu Xiaobo’s family of his detention is, strictly speaking, also against the law.”

The Chinese Law Prof Blog published the following information about “residential surveillance” in a blog post titled “Legal analysis of Liu Xiaobo’s detention“:

“Residential surveillance” (监视居住): Decision issued from PSB (not police station), read to suspect, suspect required to sign or otherwise acknowledge. Under this status, suspect cannot leave residence or designated dwelling without permission, meet with anyone other than his lawyer, is required to appear when summoned for questioning, and is prohibited from tampering with witnesses or destroying evidence. Surveillance period cannot exceed six months. No formal notification to family is required.

In theory, “residential surveillance” should take place at one’s residence (thus meaning there is little need for family to be notified). However, in practice police have often stretched the provisions of the law and applicable regulations and held suspects in guest houses or other locations. (This is illegal when the suspect has a residence that could otherwise be used for this purpose.) According to a SPC interpretation, “residential surveillance” under such circumstances constitutes “deprivation of liberty” and, therefore, the length of time spent under such surveillance must be counted as “time served” in any eventual sentence. However, the lack of requirement for notification appears to be a major loophole.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: 08 Charter, Charter 08, China Law, China rule of law, Liu Xiaobo, residential surveillance

More Charter 08 Casualties: Bullog Purged, Ran Yunfei Suspended

C.A. Yeung — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:23:22 +0000

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. Luo exercises self-censorship for very good reasons, of course, particularly when Bullog is the home of some best names in the Chinese language blogosphere – Chai Jing 柴静, Han Han 韩寒, Lian Yue 连岳, Wang Xiaoshan 王小山, Zhao Mu 赵牧 – just to name a few. This is not the first time Bullog is at the mercy of the butcher. In October 2007, Bullog was temporarily suspended. Permission to reopen was eventually granted after Luo had agreed to be vigilant about the content of his site.

For Ran Yunfei, this is the second time this year his blog has been forced to close down. Earlier in February, Ran’s blog at Tianya 天涯社区 was “harmonized” (被和谐了) as well.

The 43-year-old Sichuan based writer/editor of the Tujia minority group 土家族 is no stranger to Chinese authorities. In August 2007, Ran Yunfei joined 39 activists to issue an open letter to Chinese and world leaders. This was the first time intellectuals in China openly called for an improvement in China’s human rights policies ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games. In March this year, shortly after the 3.14 Incident in Lhasa, Ran joined a group of 29 Chinese human rights activists and issued a 12-point petition to urge Beijing to open direct dialogue with the Dalai Lama. When fellow Sichuan writer Huang Qi 黄琦 was arrested in July this year after he had openly questioned the handling of earthquake relief funds, Ran Yunfei, together with three other Sichuan bloggers, published an open letter canvassing for the immediate release of Huang. Apart from signing Charter 08, Ran also published an article advocating the release of Liu Xiaobo 刘晓波. The English translation of his articles was published in the Guardian.

I have also translated a Radio Free Asia interview with Ran Yunfei. During the interview, Ran made some very good points about freedom of speech and freedom of access to information.

As I was writing this post, I received an email tip off to let me know that Ran Yunfei has started a new blog at de-sci.org 德赛公园. The full migration may take a few more days to complete.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: 08 Charter, Bullog, Charter 08, freedom of speech, Huang Qi, Liu Xiaobo, Ran Yunfei, 和谐, 河蟹

More arrests over 08 Charter

C.A. Yeung — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:46:44 +0000

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.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: 08 Charter, Ai Xiaoming, China rule of law, Liu Xiaobo, subversion of state power, Zheng Enchong

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

C.A. Yeung — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:37:53 +0000

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:

1. A new constitution

2. Separation of powers

3. Democratic direct election of members of legislative body

4. An Independent Judiciary

5. Ending Chinese Communist Party control of the military, the police and other public servants

6. Guarantee of human rights protection against illegal arrest, detention, arraignment, interrogation, or punishment

7. Democratic elections based on “one person, one vote” and direct election of administrative heads of governments at all levels

8. Rural-urban equality through the abolition of the two-tier household registration system

9. Freedom to form groups

10. Freedom to assemble

11. Freedom of expression

12. Freedom of religion

13. Replacing of political curriculums in schools with civic education

14. Protection of private property

15. Financial and tax reform to promote greater transparency and accountability in public finance

16. Social security that ensures basic access to education, health care, retirement security, and employment

17. Protection of the environment and promote sustainable development

18. A federated republic as a way to resolve conflict over the issues of Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and other national minorities

19. The restoration of reputations of those who had suffered political stigma in past political campaigns, or have been labeled as criminals because of their thought, speech, or faith

Perry Link has provided a full English translation of 08 Charter, which will be published in the January 09 edition of the New York Review of Books.

See China Digital Times for a summary of news reports in major English language media.

Posted in media censorship, Under the Tree Tagged: 08 Charter, Liu Xiaobo, subversion of state power, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Zhang Zuhua