Your letters make a difference
© Hu Jia and Zeng Jinyan.
Zeng Jinyan has received the letters that many supporters from around the world have written to her.
She and her husband, Hu Jia, are peaceful human rights activists in Beijing. Their activism included being advocates for human rights in China, blogging and making documentaries.
Following months of intimidation, Hu Jia was detained in December 2007 on suspicion of'inciting subversion of state power'. Zeng Jinyan has been under tight police surveillance since her husband's arrest.
She has recently written to Amnesty International to thank all those who have sent letters encouraging her to remain hopeful, and informing her that international efforts continue to demand the release of her husband.
Alone no more
Zeng Jinyan writes:
"There are many police surrounding my house … I feel a bit depressed. With a little hope, I tried to open my mail box, and found nearly a hundred letters and post cards.
"I held them in my arms and took them home, and opened them one by one slowly and preciously ... On these cards carried your messages in English and Chinese and other languages: 'You are not alone and we think of you', 'Could this flower bring you hope and support', 'We lobby for Hu Jia and wish him released soon', 'Please take care of your child and yourself', 'The whole world is helping you' …
"Dear Amnesty International members, thank you so much for the courage and love and blessing, thus me and my family are no more alone!"
Inciting subversion
In April this year, Hu Jia was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' in prison in connection with interviews he gave to overseas media and articles he wrote for the Internet. Hu Jia (34) had earlier been convicted, after a one day trial, of 'inciting subversion of state power'.
Hu Jia, who started out as an AIDS activist seven years ago, is a prisoner of conscience and he must be released, immediately and unconditionally.
He has been repeatedly harassed and beaten by police because of his activities and outspokenness. He was officially detained last December after spending much of the previous year under house arrest in his apartment complex.
Under strict surveillance
Zeng Jinyan and the couple's baby daughter have endured tight police surveillance. Police have blocked Zeng Jinyan's phone and internet lines and have confiscated their computer, mobile phones, video, camera, fax machine, bankbooks and cash cards. They removed address books and documents, including several international human rights handbooks, and froze the couple's bank accounts. Police have also intercepted or prevented people from visiting Zeng Jinyan.
Amnesty believes Hu Jia's conviction is punishment for his public critiques of human rights violations in China and is a warning to any other activists who dare to raise such concerns publicly.
His imprisonment makes a mockery of the promises Chinese officials made that human rights would improve in the run-up to the Olympics.
This blog entry was created by amngu4 and does not necessarily represent the position or opinion of Amnesty International Australia.
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