Write a letter to the Chinese government, urging them to release Chen Shuqing, Lu Gengsong, and Wu Yilong, who have been imprisoned in violation of their right to freedom of expression. 

[Date]

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

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

Your Excellencies:

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the suppression of the right to freedom of expression in China and to appeal for the release of writers Chen Shuqing, Lu Gengsong, and Wu Yilong.

I understand that Chen Shuqing, a dissident writer and leading member of the Zhejiang Branch of the banned China Democracy Party (CDP), was arrested on September 14, 2006 and charged with “inciting subversion.” His case has twice been handed back to the police for lack of evidence, but on August 14, 2007 he was sentenced to four years in prison and one year’s deprivation of political rights. His appeal was rejected without trial by the Zhejiang High People's Court on October 29, 2007. Mr. Chen is being held at Qiaosi Prison in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province.

Lu Gengsong, a writer and human rights activist, was arrested on August 24, 2007 after his articles critical of the authorities were published online. Mr. Lu was formally charged with “inciting subversion of state power” on September 29, 2007, and he stood trial before the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court on January 22, 2008.  He was convicted, and on February 5, 2008 was sentenced to four years in prison and one year’s deprivation of political rights. In a closed trial on April 14, 2008, the Zhejiang Provincial High Court rejected an appeal. Mr. Lu is currently being held in Xijiao Prison, Hangzhou City.

Wu Yilong, an Internet writer and China Democracy Party (CDP) activist, was arrested in June 1999 for circulating pro-democracy articles on the Internet and for his work with the magazine Zai Yedang (Opposition Party). Mr. Wu was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of subversion on November 9, 1999. He is currently being held in Zhejiang No. 4 Prison in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province.

All three men have been imprisoned for non-violent activities that are protected under Chinese law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory. I therefore urge you to facilitate their immediate and unconditional release.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name and Signature]