Write a letter to the Chinese government, urging them to release Xu Zerong, Qi Chonghuai, and He Yanjie, 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 Xu Zerong, Qi Chonghuai and He Yanjie.

I understand that Xu Zerong, a research professor at Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, was arrested June 24, 2000 and sentenced on December 20, 2001 to 13 years in prison for “leaking state secrets” and “illegal business activities” related to his research on Chinese military operations during the Korean War. He is reportedly being held in a section of Xichuan Prison reserved for elderly and sick prisoners and is suffering from serious health conditions.

Journalist Qi Chonghuai and his research assistant, freelance reporter He Yanjie, were detained June 25, 2007 following the publication of an article on the Xinhuanet web site alleging official corruption in the Tengzhou Communist Party. They were both formally charged with “blackmail” on August 2, 2007, and their cases was handed to the Tengzhou People’s Procuratorate on November 2, 2007—one month later than the law permits. Mr. Qi and Mr. He were tried by the Tengzhou City Court in Shandong Province on May 13, 2008. Immediately following the 11-hour proceedings, Mr Qi was convicted of “extortion and blackmail” and sentenced to four years in prison. Mr. He was sentenced to two years in prison. They are both still reportedly being held at Tengzhou City Detention Center.

Xu Zerong, Qi Chonghuai and He Yanjie 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]