China: Leading free speech activist could get five years in prison

'Reporters Without Borders condemns the subversion charge that was brought yesterday against Liu Xiaobo , a leading intellectual and free speech activitist who has been held without trial in an unknown location since 8 December. The authorities have told his lawyer, Mo Shaoping, that because of his human rights activities he can no long represent Liu. “The decision to charge Liu is an insult to all the intellectuals throughout the world who have been calling for his release, ” Reporters Without Borders. “His only crime has been to defend human rights. After jailing the blogger Hu Jia, the Chinese government now plans to punish Liu for his commitment to democracy.”'

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URL Link: http://www.rsf.org/Leading-free-speech-activist-could.html

Author Organisation: Reporters Without Borders