June  24, 2007

CHINA: Leading dissident writer Chen Shuqing still detained without trial.

RAPID ACTION NETWORK
20 June 2007
RAN 30/07


The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests the continued
detention of leading dissident writer Chen Shuqing, who has been held
without trial since 14 September 2006, in violation of both Chinese and
international law. PEN considers Chen Shuqing to be detained in violation of
Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, to which China is a signatory, and calls for his immediate
and unconditional release.

According to PEN’s information, Chen Shuqing, a dissident writer and
leading member of the Zhejiang Branch of the banned Chinese Democratic Party
(CDP), was arrested on 14 September 2006 on subversion charges. His case has
twice been handed back to the police for lack of evidence. He went
voluntarily to the Daguan Police Station, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
after receiving a police summons, and following his arrest police raided his
home and took away his computer and some documents. The reason for the
charge is not known, although he is known for his critical articles
published on various overseas Chinese websites such as Boxun, Minzhu Luntan,
Dajiyuan, Yi Bao, Guancha, and Xin Shiji.

Chen, aged 42, was previously detained in 1999 for 4 months for his role in
the setting up the banned Chinese Democratic Party. After his release, he
trained to become a lawyer, but in 2005, after passing his exams, he was
refused a lawyer’s licence by the Justice Bureau of Zhejiang Province, who
alleged his articles published online had violated China’s Constitution.
Chen challenged this ruling in court, but lost the case in both the lower
and the appeal courts. He has since been subject to police harassment.

Please send appeals:
- Protesting the detention of Chen Shuqing, and calling for his immediate
and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China became a signatory in
1998;
- Urging the authorities to respect his basic rights whilst detained and to
grant him full access to his family, lawyer and any necessary medical care.

Government addresses:

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

Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang
Supreme People's Procuratorate
Beiheyan Street 147
100726 Beijing
P.R.China

Please note that fax numbers are no longer available for the Chinese
authorities, so you may wish to ask the diplomatic representative for China
in your country to forward your appeals.

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your
country if possible.

**Please contact this office if sending appeals after 9 July 2007**

For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN
Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V
6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email:
cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk

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