On December 12, 2008, the signatories of Charter 08 circulated the following statement expressing solidarity with dissident writer and prominent PEN member Liu Xiaobo, who was detained on December 8, 2008.

On the night of 8 December 2008, Mr. Liu Xiaobo was taken away from his home by the police and he has not yet returned. We have learned that Mr. Liu Xiaobo is being detained for initiating and signing Charter 08. We are deeply concerned and worried about his detention and insistently call for his immediate release.

We co-signed Charter 08 with Xiaobo because we share the same understanding of the current reality in China and the same feeling of urgency, the same sense of responsibility for the future and destiny of our motherland, and the common ideals of freedom and equality which our nation has been fighting to pursue.

Because we share these views and values, every one of us as is an initiator of Charter 08. What we want to express has been reflected in this well-known public document, and we have nothing else to hide.

There is therefore no need for Mr. Liu Xiaobo to take responsibility for us. This case is different from anything that has come before. Every one of us is ready to take responsibility for the statement. Mr. Liu Xiaobo's current situation will not deter us. As long as each of the signatories adheres to this, our conviction will never die, and that the spirit of Charter 08 will never die.

Therefore, we strongly appeal for Mr. Liu Xiaobo to be able to return home as soon as possible. His freedom is our freedom.


SIGNED:

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