Persecution of dissidents in China sharply rising; Westerwelle should push for release of imprisoned regime critics

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) appealed to Foreign Affairs Minister Guido Westerwelle to push for the release of imprisoned regime critics and for an end to the persecution of dissidents during his upcoming trip to China (31 Mar. to 2 Apr. 2011). "China's leaders are targeting peaceful dissidents and gagging human rights activists," states the appeal sent to the Minister, who will be taking part in the first German-Chinese dialog on the ministerial level. "The attacks violate not only Chinese law but also fundamental international human rights conventions." Not since the Cultural Revolution has China carried out such heavy attacks on dissidents is it has in the past five weeks: According to information obtained by the head of the STP's Asia section, Ulrich Delius, more than 100 bloggers, journalists, authors, attorneys and human rights activists have been arbitrarily arrested since mid-February 2011.

"With these acts of repression, China's leaders hope the overspill of the Jasmine Revolution from North Africa into the People's Republic will be nipped in the bud," says Delius. "The level of persecution seen today even exceeds the oppression applied during the 2008 Summer Olympics and the award ceremony when the Nobel Peace Prize went to Liu Xiaobo in December 2010."

Westerwelle should also press for revocation of the illegal house arrest of Liu Xia, wife of Liu Xiaobo, and other dissidents who are held in isolation in their homes. Liu Xia recently issued a dramatic plea for help, bringing attention to the plight of other dissidents currently under house arrest. For five months she has been cut off from all contact with the outside world. Visitors are not permitted, all the telephone lines have been cut, her mobile telephone was confiscated, and she is not permitted to leave her apartment. "I'll be losing my mind soon," Liu Xia stated in desperation.

Most of the 100 arrestees have disappeared without a trace. Beijing attorney Tang Jitian was abducted by security forces on February 16. He lost his license to practice law in June 2009 because he had dared to represent members of the banned Falun Gong meditation movement in court. In 2010 alone, more than 550 Falun Gong practitioners in were sentenced to imprisonment after unfair trials. More than 20 attorneys who have represented Falun Gong followers, Tibetans or Uighurs have lost their licenses since then.

The persecution of Tibetans and Uighurs is on the rise as well. Numerous Uighur bloggers and webmasters have been condemned to long prison sentences. Since February 2011, eleven Uighurs have been condemned to death in secret trials that did not meet international judicial standards. In Tibet, the monks' freedom movement has been further restricted to prevent them from voting in elections to determine the successor to the Dalai Lama as secular leader of the Tibetans.