The trial came amid a crackdown on activism in China in which dozens of lawyers and activists have vanished, been interrogated, held under house arrest or criminally detained for subversion.
Liu Xianbin, who has previously spent a decade in prison, was found guilty of inciting subversion of state power after a trial that lasted just a few hours, his wife, Chen Mingxian, said.
Chinese law says inciting subversion carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, but a court can impose a longer sentence if the offence is deemed particularly grave.
"The 10-year sentence to me, because we've already been through 10 years … is a repeat of the painful process, one in which I can only watch and wait anxiously," said Chen, who is a schoolteacher.
Liu was a founding member of the China Democracy party and was convicted in 1999 of subversion of state power and sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was released in November 2008.
After his release, Liu continued to be involved in several high-profile human rights activities. He was a signatory to the Charter 08 manifesto, which called for an end to single-party rule and advocated democratic political reforms.
What can one add to this? China’s atrocious human rights record speaks for itself
5 comments:
It makes one despair.
That it does Andrew.
In recent weeks the Chinese government has also closed Tibet to foreigners. The Communist party is concerned about calls for democracy in repressive regimes around the world.
this would have been a perfect entry for this week's PhotoHunt: CAGED if it weren't so heartbreaking...
That's true Susan, heaven forbid that the Chinese people get more control over their government and what they can say.
That's tru Ian. It is heartbreaking
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