By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – More than 150 international scholars, human-rights activists and Nobel Prize laureates calling for the release of a prominent human rights activist, Liu Xiaobo. In an open letter to the Chinese President Hu, they expressed their “deep concern” with the ongoing “arbitrary detention” of Mr. Liu.  “The presumption is that Mr. Liu has been arrested solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed under China’s constitution and international law,” the letter said.  The letter also asked Hu to ensure the civil rights of citizens and stand by the “rule of law” that the leadership says governs China.

According to human-rights groups, Mr. Liu, a former university professor, was arrested earlier this month for signing a petition called “Charter 08” earlier this month. “Charter 08”  is an open petition call for human rights and democracy and demand for an end to the dominance of the Communist Party in China.  Mr. Liu previously was jailed 20 months for participating in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Mo Shaoping, a lawyer who is representing Mr. Liu, said Mr. Liu’s wife had asked police about her husband but they refused to give her any information. Jiang Qisheng, another prominent Chinese activist who also signed Charter 08,  says that under Chinese law, authorities must tell family members where a person is being kept and the reason for their detention within 24 hours. Jiang said he welcomed the letter, “This will help, at what degree it’s difficult to say,” he told AFP.  The European Union and the United States have also expressed their concern over Liu’s detention.

In response, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that he did not know the specifics of Mr. Liu’s case, but that China would not tolerate interference in its internal affairs. “I can tell you that China runs the country according to law and will handle the relevant issue according to law,” Qin Gang said.

For more information, please see:

AP – Scholars, lawyers call for release of China critic – 23 December 2008

BBC – China urged to release dissident – 23 December 2008

International Herald Tribune – Petition over detained Chinese writer goes international – 23 December 2008

Wall Street Journal – Activists Demand Release of Leading Chinese Dissident – 24 December 2008