Free Hu Jia
Chinese human rights activist Hu Jia was on April 3 sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment for “inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system”. For years, Hu Jia has been working in the name of human rights, often coming into conflict with the Chinese government.
There have been numerous attempts to silence Hu Jia. Along with his wife, Zeng Jinyan, who is also a human rights activist, Hu Jia was placed under house arrest in May last year.
Hu Jia has been involved in Aids activism and in campaigns for the release of political prisoners. His criticism towards the Chinese government for its poor response to Aids in China is one of many reasons why he is considered a threat to Chinese national security.
Speaking in November last year about the forthcoming Olympic Games, Hu Jia said, “It is ironic that one of the people in charge of organizing the Olympic Games is the head of the Bureau of Public Security, which is responsible for so many human rights violations. It is very serious that the official promises are not being kept before the games.”
Hu Jia was arrested in December and sentenced two weeks ago.
Censorship of the media and the Internet in China is reaching epic levels. Those critical of the government are bullied into silence and activists are kept under constant surveillance. Hu Jia couldn’t make a phone call or send an email without someone prying.
After being abducted in March last year, Hu Jia was detained for 41 days.
In May last year, Hu Jia resigned as leader of the Loving Source Aids support group to become a full-time democracy activist.
This Guardian report offers an insight into the world of Hu Jia.
There is no Olympic spirit in China.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:11 am
Actually, laws had actually improved in China. If Hu committed such “crimes” prior to the Open Door policy, he would have been shot or imprisoned to at least a 20+ year term (look @ Wei Jingsheng prior to his release & exile in the West).
They are just keeping his mouth shut until the BJ Olympics and SH EXPO is over.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
It is interesting to see the progression of the Chinese government’s efforts to censor any form of media. From the “Great Firewall” to more recent media blackouts, the Chinese government seems to be begging citizens and netizens to come up with new ways to get around filters and bans. The increase in censorship will only create more ways for people to get their information, “illegally” in this case. I found this recent
press release discussing some issues and solutions to the restrictive regimes. The use of proxy servers to surf anonymously has been increasing recently, and a big factor is because of these restrictive government regimes attempting to block Internet usage and even jail or detain anyone involved in reporting certain things that the propaganda department doesn’t want people knowing about. Surfing anonymously will steadily increase from a way to protect your privacy, to a way of protecting your life and human rights. Whil Hu Jia was an outspoken activist, many people feel they need to hide the fact that they want changes made, since they fear imprisonment, or worse.