CHINA: Dissident writer Hu Shigen released

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release of
University lecturer, political activist and dissident writer Hu Shigen on 26
of August 2008, after spending sixteen years and three months in prison.
International PEN remains concerned that he remains under restrictions, and
reminds the Chinese authorities of their obligations to Article 19 of the
United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

According to International PEN’s information, Hu Shigen, now aged 53, was
arrested on 27 September 1992, and convicted on 16 December 1994 by the
Beijing Intermediate People’s Court of ‘leading a counterrevolutionary
organisation’ and ‘counterrevolutionary propaganda’. Hu Shigen was
sentenced to twenty years in prison and a subsequent five years of
deprivation of political rights. He was amongst dozens of China Freedom and
Democracy Party (CFDP) and China Free Trade Union (CFTU) members to be
detained in April and May 1992 for planning 4 June 1989 memorial activities
in many of China’s major cities. As a founding member of both the CFDP and
CFTU, Hu Shigen drafted a number of key documents for both parties and was
active in calling for government accountability for the violent suppression
of the Democracy Movement in June 1989. Reports suggest that he is in poor
health after many years of ill-treatment in jail.

Hu Shigen’s sentence has been reduced several times in prison, most
recently in May 2008. Although now released, Hu Shigen remains formally
deprived of his right to exercise free speech, right of association and of
free assembly, and his eligibility to work for a state institution.

Hu Shigen is honorary member of: English PEN, Independent Chinese PEN, PEN
Canada.

Please send appeals:

  a.. Welcoming the release of university lecturer, political activist and
dissident writer Hu Shigen, but expressing serious concerns about the
continuing restrictions he faces;

  b.. Calling for all restrictions against him to be lifted in accordance
with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
to which China is a signatory.

WiPC recommends that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your
country asking them to forward it and welcoming any comments.

Government addresses:

His Excellency Hu Jintao

President of the People’s Republic of China

State Council

Beijing 100032

P.R. China
Mr. Meng Jianzhu

Minister of the Public Security

East Chang’an Avenue 14

100741 Beijing

P.R. China

Please note that fax numbers are no longer available for the Chinese
authorities, so you may wish to ask the diplomatic representative for China
in your country to forward your appeals.

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your
country if possible.

For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN
Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V
6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email:
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Cathy McCann
Researcher, Asia/Middle East
International PEN Writers in Prison Committee
Brownlow House
50-51 High Holborn
London WC1V 6ER.
Tel.+44 (0)20 7405 0338
Fax: +44 (0)20 7405 0339
http://www.internationalpen.org.uk