What You Can Do
Chinese Internet Dissidents: Huang Qi and Liu Di
1. Tell the Chinese government to immediately release Huang Qi and Liu Di.
Sample letter: please use your own words.
President Hu Jintao
Beijing
People’s Republic of China
Dear President Hu Jintao,
Your role as China’s new president comes at an important time in the country’s economic and social development. The Internet is a key tool for China’s continued growth. With more than 59 million users in China already, the Internet provides access to information on a global basis.
It is essential that the rights of free expression of all Internet users be fully respected, in compliance with international human rights norms that China has pledged to uphold.
However, I am deeply concerned about your government’s increased restrictions on the Internet, and official attempts to limit free expression. In particular, I urge you to take immediate action to cease the detention and arrest of Chinese citizens on serious charges of subversion for using the Internet to download or circulate information calling for human rights, political reform, or an end to corruption.
Mr. Huang Qi, a webmaster in Chengdu, Sichuan, was detained on June 3, 2000 and put on trial the following February and August at the Chengdu Intermediate Court. He was charged with subversion after articles on democracy and human rights appeared on a website he had maintained since 1999. The final verdict has not yet been announced.
Mr. Huang’s prosecution clearly violates China’s international human rights commitments. His treatment sends a chilling message both to Chinese citizens and to potential investors in China’s Internet, who may be reluctant to appear complicit in the suppression of free expression.
Twenty-two year old Beijing Normal student Liu Di disappeared five months ago after posting articles critical of the government and in defense of other jailed Internet users. She has no access to legal counsel and is being held on charges of “being detrimental to state security.”
I respectfully urge you to ensure that Mr. Huang’s case is promptly reviewed, and that he be immediately and unconditionally released. I further urge you to investigate the circumstances of Liu Di’s disappearance and guarantee her access to proper legal proceedings.
Sincerely, [Your name and any useful affiliation]
cc: PRC Ambassador to the US
Mr. Yang Jiechi
2300 Connecticut Avenue, N.W
Washington, D.C. 20008
Fax: 202-328-2582
Governor ZHANG Zhongwei
Sichuan Province
Duyuanjie
Chengdushi
Sichuansheng
People's Republic of China
JING Ruixiang
President Sichuan Province High
People's Court
Chengdushi
Sichuansheng
People's Republic of China
2. Write Intel Corporation, which is a major foreign investor in China in the area of wireless communications, and as that it use its influence to raise concerns about these cases and Internet censorship with the Chinese government.
Sample letter: please use your own words.
Craig R. Barrett, CEO
Intel Corp.
2200 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95052
Fax: 408-765-9904
Dear Mr. Barrett,
I am concerned about China's official attempts to stifle free expression on the Internet, in violation of the government's commitments to respect internationally recognized human rights. I hope your company will be pro-active in expanding the opportunities for free expression in China.
For this reason, I am writing to ask for your help.
I understand that Intel Corp. is launching wireless phone networks with Internet access with two major Chinese companies. This puts your company in a pivotal position to influence the Internet's development in China.
Access to the Internet in China could provide many millions of Chinese with an important tool for the country's continued economic and social growth. However, the use of the Internet to obtain information on a global basis will be seriously affected by Chinese government censorship and increasing official restrictions on Internet use.
Chinese officials have detained and arrested a number of Chinese citizens on serious charges of subverion for using the Internet to download or circulate information calling for human rights, political reform, or an end to corruption. For example, Huang Qi, a webmaster in Sichuan province, was detained on June 3, 2000 and put on trial in 2001 on charges of subversion for maintaining a much-acclaimed website devoted to locating missing and trafficked persons and hosting discussion of democracy issues. The final verdict has not yet been announced. His detention and trial received major media attention internationally. Twenty-two year old Beijing Normal student Liu Di disappeared five months ago after posting articles critical of government restrictions on the Internet, among them criticism of the jailing of Huang Qi. Authorities have said she is being charges of “being detrimental to state security” but no one knows where she is being held and she has no access to counsel.
I urge Intel to privately raise concern about Huang Qi, Liu Di and others similarly charged, in your contacts with Chinese officials. Please convey to them the your interest in seeing the Internet freely develop in China, and in avoiding cases such as this which reflect badly on China's image overseas.
Thank you for your attention to my concerns. I look foward to your reply.
Sincerely, [Your name and any useful affiliation]
