Today’s letter in the Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon focused on Liu Xiaobo, 2010 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who was given an 11-year prison sentence in December 2009 for calling for political and legal reform in China. The letter went to Premier Wen Jiabao of the People’s Republic of China.
Amnesty International notes that Liu Xiaobo’s imprisonment is a clear attempt to prevent him from carrying out his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities. Amnesty further notes that the detention, restriction, and harassment of peaceful human rights activists has increased in recent years, running counter to promises made by officials in China’s National Human Rights Action Plan 2009-2010.
My letter, guided by Amnesty, asked the Premier to release Liu Xiaobo immediately and unconditionally and to lift the surveillance and severe restrictions currently placed on his wife Liu Xia. It called the Premier to see that Liu Xiaobo has access to his family and lawyers. It further addressed the systemic issue of the use of broad and vaguely defined charges to arbitrarily detain and prosecute activists, journalists and internet users.
Sign up to participate in the Write-a-thon.
Find resources for the Write-a-thon, including sample letters to adapt.
Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international human rights framework.
See you along the Trail.
Related articles
- Sri Lanka – Ragihar Manoharan (graybeardtrail.wordpress.com)
- Charge and try – or release (graybeardtrail.wordpress.com)
- Jean-Claude Roger Mbede – Cameroon (graybeardtrail.wordpress.com)
- Words can save lives (graybeardtrail.wordpress.com)
Along the Graybeard Trail 
Pingback: On behalf of teachers | Along the Graybeard Trail
Pingback: Freedom of expression in Paupua province | Along the Graybeard Trail
Pingback: Nine years of resistance | Along the Graybeard Trail