By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – An international writers’ organization has called on the Chinese government to release dissident Liu Xiaobo.  More than 300 writers, including Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Chinese novelists Ha Jin and Jung Chang, signed the call for Liu’s release, writers group International PEN said.

Liu was arrested last month after he issued an online petition called Charter 08. Around 300 Chinese dissidents and intellectuals signed the text.  Despite censors repeatedly removing references to the charter from websites, supporters say that 7,000 more have added their names.  Charter 08 called for greater rights for Chinese, direct elections and political and fiscal reforms.

Since the issue of Charter 08, Chinese authority constantly harassed some of the Charter signatories.  But Liu is the only signatory to have been detained for an extended period.  Police appear to believe that he took a lead in drafting the document. Others say they have been questioned repeatedly regarding the Charter and Liu’s role in its preparation.

Under Chinese laws, Liu Xiaobo could be held under “residential surveillance” for a maximum of six months.  He is not allowed to leave his residence or meet people without prior police approval during this time.  The Chinese authority has not yet made public any information concerning the charges against him.

Liu was not allowed to meet his lawyer or family, except during the New Year’s Day lunch (with his wife and two police officers).  “He was unshaven, and to me he looked a little thinner,” Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, said. “We could only really discuss family matters during lunch.”  He does not have the right of access to a judge to challenge the grounds of his detention, unless his detention exceeds the six-month limit.

“The use of such detention without formal arrest or charge against peaceful activists is arbitrary and in violation of international human rights standards, including the rights to liberty, security of person and fair trial,” said Roseann Rife, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Programme.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – China urged to release scholar Liu Xiaobo from ‘residential surveillance’ – 07 January 2009

Guardian – Authors lobby for Chinese dissident’s release – 21 January 2009

BBC – Authors urge Liu Xiaobo release – 21 January 2009

Reuters – Writers call for China dissident’s release – 21 January 2009