Svenska PEN protesterar mot att den kinesiska redaktören och journalisten Gao Yu döms till sju års fängelse för att ha läckt hemliga dokument om den kinesiska regimens planerade tillslag mot pressfriheten i landet. Nedan följer ett brev till Kinas president Xi Jinping.
His Excellency Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R. China
April 20, 2015
Your Excellency,
According to Swedish PEN’s information, Beijing-based veteran journalist Gao Yu has been convicted of ‘leaking state secrets abroad’ and sentenced to seven years in prison on 17 April this year. During her trial, which began behind closed doors on 21 November 2014 only the prosecutors, Gao’s lawyers, the judges and court staff and a few court police were present owing to the nature of the charges laid against her.
Further more Swedish PEN wishes to remind your Excellency that China is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides for freedom of legitimate expression, the right not to be arbitrarily detained and the right to a fair trial, and therefore is obliged to ‘refrain from acts that would defeat or undermine the treaty’s objective and purpose.’
In order to maintain our current hopes for the coming of a healthy stabilization of the situation for journalism and freedom of speech inside China, Swedish PEN see no other choice but to strongly condemn the detention of prominent journalist and editor Gao Yu, and to plea for her immediate and unconditional release.
Sincerely,
Ola Larsmo
President,
Swedish PEN
Annika Thor
President,
WiPC Swedish PEN