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An appeal for freedom of speech in China Domenico
Pacitti & editorial staff of JUST Response Human Rights
Journal Fifty-four Chinese citizens
have received prison sentences of between two and twelve years for
expressing and exchanging opinions on the Internet. The true
figure is believed to be very much higher. JUST Response
urgently invites Hu Jintao, President of the People's
Republic of China, Premier Wen Jiabao and Jiang Zemin, former
President and now Head of the Central Military Commission, to
order the immediate release of prisoners and recognise the basic
human right of freedom of expression for all who live in
China. Mr. Hu Jintao Mr. Wen Jiabao Mr. Jiang Zemin The good people of China RE: Request for: 1) the unconditional release of
at least fifty-four Chinese citizens who have been imprisoned for
expressing and exchanging opinions on the Internet; 2) full
observation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR) signed by China in 1998; 3) the immediate
recognition and establishment of the basic human right of freedom
of expression for all who live in China JUST Response
is an international human rights journal concerned with the
worldwide monitoring and promotion of the basic principles of
truth, justice, freedom and democracy. We wish to express our full
support for the 54 Chinese citizens who have been jailed for
expressing and disseminating their opinions on the Internet, as
reported by Amnesty International. We believe that they could well
represent only a fraction of a much larger number. We respectfully request that
you order the swift release of these 54 prisoners and all others
who are being held on similar charges. We invite you to desist
from persecuting the free expression, exchange and dissemination
of opinions by courageous thinking men and women from a broad
cross-section of Chinese society. They represent both the future
of your country and its intimate soul, both of which you are
attempting to destroy. We remind you that on October 5
1998, the People's Republic of China became signatories to the
ICCPR. Article 19 of that Covenant states: "1. Everyone shall have
the right to hold opinions without interference. 2. Everyone shall
have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include
freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all
kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in
print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his
choice." Why did you sign the Covenant
if you do not intend to abide by it? How much honour do you think
this wiil bring upon the Chinese government and its people? Your country is estimated to
have over fifty million Internet users and is poised to overtake
the USA, the current world leader. Do you really think you can
hold back this ocean of opinion or contain this fire of energy? Do
you want to "wrap fire in paper" or stop the sun from
rising? Note: JUST Response published this appeal on February 1 2004. |
