Chinese dissident sentenced on 25 December

Liu Xiaobo, a leading dissident in China, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on 25 December 2009.  The date of the announcement may have been cunningly chosen to minimise international attention.  Many foreign diplomats and journalists are likely to be away from Beijing for the holiday.  Anyone from other countries who tried to attend the trial was told that the courtroom was full.  Even the defendant's wife was not allowed in.  Liu Xiaobo was given the 11-year sentence for subversion, a vaguely defined offence.  The case raises fears that others involved in Charter 08 may also receive harsh punishment from the Chinese authorities.

See Charter 08 introduced and translated by Perry Link.