China: Wang Dejia detained for comments on Olympics

Published: December 20, 2007

***UPDATE: English PEN welcomes the release of dissident writer Wang Dejia (aka Jing Chu), who was freed on bail on 12 January 2008. We nonetheless remain concerned that he still faces charges and could stand trial within a year for his critical writings posted online. His release is said to be conditional on him not writing anything critical of the authorities or 'subversive'. He must also seek permission to travel, and items that were seized at the time of his arrest, such as his computer, have not been returned to him. English PEN therefore continues to call for all charges against Wang to be dropped in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. ***

English PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of dissident writer Wang Dejia (aka Jing Chu), who was arrested on 14 December 2007. PEN fears that Wang Dejia may be held in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory, and if so calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

According to PEN's information, Guangxi-based dissident writer Wang Dejia was arrested from his home in Guilin, in China's southern Guangxi Province, on 13 December 2007 and taken to the Quanzhou Chengbei police Station, where he was detained on suspicion of 'inciting subversion of State power'.

His family believe his detention is directly related to his articles published on-line on the Minzhu Luntan website (Democracy Forum, http://asiademo.org), including 'Illegal Possession of State Secrets - an important Chinese Communist Party Invention that Persecutes Prisoners of Conscience', 'Handcuffed Olympics Will Bing Only Disasters to the People', and 'Yi Yuanlong Jailed for Two Years for Four articles; How Many Will I be Jailed For?' His wife also reports that in October 2007 he met with U.S. Embassy officials to discuss human rights in China.

Please send appeals:

• Protesting the detention of dissident writer Wang Dejia, on the grounds that it appears intended to silence his writing;
• Calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

Addresses:

His Excellency Hu Jintao

President of the People's Republic of China

State Council

Beijing 100032

P.R.China.

Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang

Supreme People's Procuratorate

Beiheyan Street 147

100726 Beijing

P.R.China

It may be more effective, however, to send the above appeals care of the Chinese representative in London:

Her Excellency Mrs Fu Ying

49-51 Portland Place

London W1B 4JL

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