ICPC’s Statement to Strongly Protest Against the Charge and Arrest of Dr. Liu Xiaobo


The Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) is alarmed by the news that the Beijing authorities have formally charged and arrested Dr. Liu Xiaobo, a prominent writer as well as ICPC’s board member and former president, for inciting subversion of the state power. ICPC members are extremely outraged at this action indicating that the Chinese authorities defies worldwide criticisms and continues to prosecute individuals who simply express their own opinions, and ICPC strongly protests against Beijing’s perverse act once again.

On June 24, Xinhua News Agency has reported that, according to the public security agencies, Liu Xiaobo has been engaged in agitation activities, such as spreading of rumors and defaming of the government, aimed at subversion of the state and overthrowing the socialism system in recent years, thus violating the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China. It said that the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau carried out investigation against him according to Chinese laws and arrested him on 23 June upon the approval of the prosecuting authority. Liu Xiaobo has confessed to the charge in preliminary investigation according to the police statement.

According to ICPC's sources, Dr. Liu Xiaobo’s wife Liu Xia has also received the letter of notification about Liu Xiaobo’s charge and arrest from the Beijing Municipal Public Security today.

On 8 December 2008, Dr. Liu Xiaobo was taken away by public security officers at his home because he took part in drafting and initiating the Charter 08. His whereabouts had been unknown since then. The Beijing authorities illegally detained him under “residential surveillance” in an undisclosed place without any official accusation until his family was notified about the formal arrest.

As a public intellectual who endeavors to promote independent thinking and freedom of expression, Dr. Liu Xiaobo consistently calls on and pushes forward the development of human rights and democracy in mainland China over the last 20 years. The Charter 08, as a document which brings people from different social classes together who wish China to implement political and democratic reform, has gained wide local and overseas recognition because its moderate, rational and constructive recommendations. Dr. Liu Xiaobo’s personal fate thus attracts more and more attention. His personal freedom becomes an important touchstone to examine whether the Chinese authorities will continue to stand against the value of the modern political civilization.

The ICPC strongly demands that the Beijing authorities should abide by the PRC Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which the Chinese government signed in 1998 and that it should immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Liu Xiaobo.