Countdown for China

China briefing highlights: Longtime Activists Get Heavy Prison Sentences for “Inciting Subversion”: Over the past week, Sichuan activist Chen Wei and Guizhou activist Chen Xi were each given a lengthy prison sentence in another clear...

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, December 26, 2011) – Today, the day after Christmas, Chinese authorities sent another activist, Chen Xi (陈西), to prison for 10 years, with an additional 3-year deprivation of political rights for...

Earlier today, the Suining Intermediate People’s Court in Sichuan Province heard the case against veteran activist Chen Wei (陈卫) for “inciting subversion of state power.” At the conclusion of the 2.5 hour hearing, the court rendered a...

Amnesty International today called on Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Chen Wei, a human rights advocate set to stand trial on 23 December on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” over essays he...

Veteran activist and “Jasmine Crackdown” detainee Chen Wei will be tried for “inciting subversion” on December 23, following the footsteps of prominent activists including Gao Zhisheng and Liu Xiaobo, whose trials took place right...

Chinese Human Rights Defenders, December 16, 2011) – The human rights lawyer and activist Gao Zhisheng (高智晟), who has been missing for the past 20 months, reportedly has been put “back in jail,” according to a brief English-language...

Highlights Guizhou Activist Arrested As Rights Forum Declared “Illegal”: Guizhou activist Chen Xi (陈西) was recently arrested for “inciting subversion,” just days before authorities strongly moved to ban the Guizhou Human Rights Forum...

10 December 2011 Protesters from Chinese, Uyghur and Tibetan Solidarity UK and activists gathered outside the Chinese Embassy in London to mark the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Protest images ---------...

(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, December 9, 2011) As the world observes Human Rights Day on December 10, CHRD notes that 2011 was one of the worst years in recent memory for human rights and human rights defenders in China. Activists...

Ding Mao, Detained During Jasmine Revolution Crackdown, Released Into Residential Surveillance: Sichuan activist Ding Mao (丁矛) was released on December 1 after more than nine months in detention, but was ordered to serve six months of...

Ding Mao, Detained During Jasmine Revolution Crackdown, Released Into Residential Surveillance: Sichuan activist Ding Mao (丁矛) was released on December 1 after more than nine months in detention, but was ordered to serve six months of...

Detainees From Jasmine Revolution Crackdown See Case Developments: The “incitement” case against Sichuan activist Chen Wei (陈卫) has been transferred to a court, but authorities have continued to obstruct the formation of his defense...

Highlights Trial of Ni Yulan, Husband Set to Open But Then Sent Back to Procuratorate, Ni’s Health Weakens: The “creating a disturbance” case against Beijing lawyer Ni Yulan (倪玉兰) and her husband, Dong Jiqin (董继勤) was initially...

Contents * Arbitrary Detention o Sichuan Land Rights Activist Liu Zhengyou Released from Prison o Shanghai Activist Sentenced to Three Years and Six Months in Prison o Sichuan Activist Zuo Xiaohuan Released after 18 Months of Pre-trial...

Contents * Arbitrary Detention o Victim of Medical Accident Detained for 20 Months in Psychiatric Hospital * Freedom of Expression o Blog Closed after Posting Article that Advocates for Intra-Party Democracy * Harassment of Activists o...

Highlights * Chinese activists and netizens continue to make the treacherous trip to visit Chen Guangcheng, currently held under illegal house arrest with his wife and 6-year-old daughter. One group of 37 activists were assaulted while...

Dear Mr HU Jintao, My name is SHAO Jiang. I am Chineseand have for many years lived in exile after I was forced to flee from mainlandChina due to my role in helping to organise peaceful protests calling forpolitical reform at Tiananmen...

Thank you. It is my great honor to speak atthis historical moment and to stand in solidarity with the Syrian people. 2011marks Arab Spring, to topple dictators. Tunisia Egyptian,Libyan people are continuing their democratization...

Highlights Activists, Authorities Stay Closely Focused on Chen Guangcheng: Authorities have kept up the harassment and intimidation of activists who harbor plans to visit lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng (陈光诚) in Shandong Province...

On 17 Oct, a 20 year old nun named Tenzin Wangmo of Ngaba,eastern Tibet, became the 9th Tibetan to self-immolate this year in protestagainst China's repression. She died on the scene. On Saturday, teenagerNorbu Damdul also set himself...