FOCUS ON CHINA
March 31- April 25, 2003
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FOCUS ON CHINA March 31- April 25, 2003 |
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is calling on PEN Members and Friends of PEN worldwide to focus on the plight of their colleagues in China during a campaign running from March 31 through April 25, 2003.
This campaign will highlight a broad spectrum of issues affecting freedom of expression throughout China including the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR):
Long-term detainees in China
Tibetan writers in prison
The introduction of Article 23 of the Basic Law in Hong Kong
The recent crackdown on internet writers by the Chinese authorities
PEN members, supporters and friends are urged to take part in this campaign by sending appeals to the Chinese authorities:
Denouncing the extent of the repression of freedom of expression in China;
Expressing serious concern about the number of writers serving long prison sentences in China and in the Tibetan Autonomous Region for the peaceful practice of their right to freedom of expression, and the heavy sentences recently handed down to a number of internet writers;
Expressing alarm at the numbers of writers currently detained without trial;
Highlighting the Chinese government's international freedom of expression obligations;
Welcoming the appointment of Hu Jintao as the President of the People's Republic of China as an excellent opportunity for an improvement in the freedom of expression situation;
Calling on the Chinese authorities to ensure the humanitarian treatment of all writers in detention, to effect the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained solely for the exercise of their right to freedom of expression, and to revise all current and future laws legislating for the restriction of freedom of expression in China, the TAR and the HKSAR in accordance with their international freedom of expression obligations.
Please contact ftw@pen.org if you have any questions.
Photo above courtesy of www.photomann.com
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