CHINA: Dissident writer Chen Daojun charged


17 June 2008

Update #1 to RAN 27/08

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned about the charges of ‘inciting splittism' against dissident writer and journalist Chen Daojun, who was detained on 9 May 2008 near the city of Chengdu, Sichuan province. International PEN calls for his immediate and unconditional release if he continues to be held in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory.

According to International PEN's information, freelance journalist Chen Daojun was among a number of people detained on 9 May 2008 whilst protesting the building of a chemical plant in the town of Pengzhou, 39 km outside the capital Chengdu.

The following is an excerpt of an alert issued as part of the "We Are Ready for Free Expression" campaign being carried out by PEN Centres. For more information about this case and other attacks on writers and journalists in China go to: "We Are Ready for Free Expression"

‘PEN has ... received confirmation that Chen Daojun, a freelance writer and journalist detained in Chengdu since May 9, has now been charged with "inciting splittism," not "inciting subversion of state power" as had been initially reported. The charge, most often used against Tibetans and Uighurs in China, most likely stems from an article Chen published following the Tibetan protests which declared respect to the Tibetan people, defended their basic rights and condemned the Chinese government's violent crackdown on protesters.'


Please send appeals:

  • Expressing serious concern about the charges against detained journalist Chen Daojun;
  • Pointing out that he appears to have been charged in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which China is a signatory, and if so calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

WiPC recommends that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country asking them to forward it and welcoming any comments.

Government addresses:

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People's Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R. China.

Mr. Meng Jianzhu
Minister of the Public Security
East Chang'an Avenue 14
100741 Beijing
P.R. China

Please note that fax numbers are no longer available for the Chinese authorities, so you may wish to ask the diplomatic representative for China in your country to forward your appeals.

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your country if possible.

**Please contact the PEN WiPC office in London if sending appeals after 17 July 2008**

For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk