On December 10, 2007, PEN Presidents Francine Prose, Zheng Yi, and Nelofer Pazira issued the following letter to President Hu Jintao and Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang.

December 10, 2007

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
People’s Republic of China

Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang
Supreme People’s Procuratorate
State Council Beiheyan Street 147
100726 Beijing
People’s Republic of China

Mr. Xiao Yang
President of the Supreme People’s Court
No.27 Dongjiaominxiang
Dongcheng District, Beijing 100745
People’s Republic of China


Excellencies:

We are writing on behalf of our members and the entire community of International PEN, the worldwide association of writers, to urge you to release 40 of our colleagues who are in prison in your country in violation of their right to freedom of expression.

This past August, China launched a publicity campaign proclaiming “We Are Ready” to host the Olympic Games in August 2008. Today, on the 59th commemoration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we challenge you to demonstrate that China is in fact ready – not just to stage the Olympics, but to acknowledge, protect, and celebrate the full rights of its citizens.

PEN believes the following writers and journalists are imprisoned in your country for exercising their right to speak and write freely, as guaranteed under Chinese and international law:

CHEN Shuqing
CHING Cheong
GUO Qizhen
Dawa GYALTSEN
Jampel GYATSO
HADA
HE Depu
HU Shigen
HUANG Jinqiu (aka Qing Shuiju)
Korash HUSEYIN
JIN Haike
KONG Youping
Dolma KYAB
LI Changqing
LI Zhi
LU Gengsong
LU Jianhua
LU Zengqi
Abdulghani MEMETEMIN
NING Xianhua
QIAO Chonghuai
SHI Tao
TAO Haidong
Tohti TUNYAZ (pen-name MUZART)
WANG Xiaoning
WU Yilong
XU Wei
XU Zerong
YAN Zhengxue
YANG Maodong (aka Guo Feixiong)
YANG Tongyan (aka Yang Tianshui)
YANG Zili
Nurehamet YASIN
YU Huafeng
YUAN Qiuyan
ZHANG Honghai
ZHANG Jianhong (aka Li Hong)
ZHANG Lin
ZHENG Yichun
ZHU Yufu

We are attaching brief descriptions of each of these colleagues, which are based on PEN’s most recent research. We entreat you to review this information and intervene in these cases to facilitate their immediate releases.

In addition, in order that these colleagues are not simply replaced by others and that writers and journalists are not imprisoned in violation of their right to freedom of expression in the future, we respectfully request that the Chinese government:

 • abide by its pledge that “there will be no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games”; and

• end internet censorship and reform laws that are used to suppress the free exchange of information and ideas on the internet.

The continuing detention of writers and journalists damages China’s image abroad and undercuts its ambitions to develop a dynamic and competitive economy and culture. China’s citizens are ready to exercise the rights they are guaranteed under their constitution and under international law, including the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. With all eyes on China this year, we look forward to the good news that our colleagues have been released.

Sincerely,

Francine Prose
President
PEN American Center

Zheng Yi
President
Independent Chinese PEN

Nelofer Pazira
President
Canada PEN Center