Writing, 1 feb (elmundo.cr) – In China, repression intensifies, imposing prison sentences on critical activists, indicates Amnesty International.
The most recent politically motivated victims have been three Chinese human rights activists critical of the government, sentenced to prison for publishing books about democracy and activism.
Activists Tang Jingling, of 44 years, Yuan Xinting, also of 44, y Wang Qingying, of 31, have been found guilty by the Guangzhou Municipal Intermediate People's Court of “inciting subversion of state power” and sentenced to five years in prison, three and a half and two and a half, respectively.
Patrick Poon, Amnesty International China researcher, He noted that “the sentence handed down against these three activists is a flagrant injustice.”. Their peaceful and legitimate work has never threatened the security of the State; What happens is that the authorities arbitrarily silence those who criticize the government.”.
Authorities appear to be intensifying their use of false charges related to “national security.”” as their attacks on activists and critics of abuses of power increase
According to the indictment, Tang Jingling, Yuan Xinting and Wang Qingying have “promoted ideas of civil disobedience […] in order to overthrow the socialist system”. They were not accused of participating in acts of civil disobedience themselves..
The main evidence mentioned by the prosecutor, in court hearings held in June and July 2015, was the publication of a series of books on civic activism, democratization and civil disobedience, among them From dictatorship to democracy, by Gene Sharp; Organizing: A Guide for Grassroots Leaders ,by Si Kahn, y Breaking the Real Axis of Evil, de Mark Palmer.
The activists were also accused of having participated in various “illegal activities.”” from 2006. These included the commemoration of the victims of the Tiananmen crackdown 1989; Lin Zhao's acts of remembrance, executed during the Cultural Revolution, and the signing of the Charter 08, manifesto for democracy co-authored by Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who is in prison.
“The indictment itself makes clear that the men have done nothing that has exceeded the limits of the right to free speech.”. Their convictions and sentence should be quashed and all three released immediately and unconditionally.”, Poon concluded..
