The former president of the Independent Chinese PEN Center is serving an 11-year sentence for "inciting subversion of state power".
(PEN American Center/IFEX) – New York City, June 1, 2010 – PEN American Center has learned that prominent dissident and intellectual Liu Xiaobo has been moved from a detention center in Beijing to Jinzhou Prison in Liaoning.
Liu Xiaobo, a former president of the Independent Chinese PEN Center who is serving an 11-year sentence for “inciting subversion of state power” for 224 characters in six of his essays and for Charter 08, was finally moved from Beijing Detention Center No. 1 on May 24 2010, more than three months after his appeal was rejected. His wife, Liu Xia, was only informed of the move on May 30. Authorities are reportedly allowing her to visit Liu Xiaobo for the first time since his appeals hearing in February, but the trip takes several hours by train from their home in Beijing.
“We are deeply disappointed that the Chinese government has moved our colleague Liu Xiaobo so far from his family,” said Larry Siems, Director of the Freedom to Write and International Programs at PEN American Center. “It is important to remember that Liu Xiaobo committed no crime, so this move is certain to bring renewed condemnation from the international community. PEN continues to call for his immediate and unconditional release.”
