Liu Xiabo gets 11 years for being a pamphleteer
Once again the Chinese government shows that it really does not believe in its own constitution. (Article 35. Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.)
Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years after a secret trial. He was found guilty of subversion. What Liu is really guilty of is drafting a petition that called for political and economic changes in the country. The petition became known as Charter 08.
Why is this significant to journalists?
Basically because it shows the current leadership in China isn’t really different from the leadership of the country during the past 60 years. Well, there is one difference, now they try to wrap their decisions in legal language instead of just operating off the whims of a few old men.
The trial of Liu and other Charter 08 supporters is similar to the trial of John Peter Zenger almost 300 years ago in the United States.
Zenger was acquitted and set a precedent for press freedom.
Simply calling for change or calling out corruption is not treason nor sedition. Most civilized countries understand that. And these countries back up their words of freedom of press and speech with actions that defend these rights.
Too bad China only has the words. It’s actions are still those of dictators with little regard for its people.
First posted at Journalism, Journalists and the World with more discussion of the Zenger case.
Tags: Censorship, China, Press Freedom
December 26th, 2009 at 9:05 am
That is sad and should be an outrage to the Chinese people. I think the problem is that many Chinese people are starting to see the rise of their own country as a superpower and are willing to overlook many of these indiscretions.