24 December 2009

State Dept. on Trial Verdict of Chinese Activist Liu Xiaobo

United States calls for Liu’s immediate release

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release

December 24, 2009

STATEMENT BY MARK TONER, ACTING SPOKESMAN

Trial Verdict of Chinese Activist Liu Xiaobo

The United States was deeply concerned to learn that well-known Chinese democracy activist Liu Xiaobo was found guilty of “incitement to subvert state power.”  We also were concerned that requests by Mr. Liu’s wife, the U.S. Embassy and other diplomatic missions to attend the trial were denied.  Punishing people for peacefully expressing their political views violates the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which China has signed.

Mr. Liu has already spent a year in detention while Chinese authorities carried out the investigation of his case.  As we have expressed repeatedly, we call on the Government of China to release him immediately and to respect the rights of all Chinese citizens to peacefully express their political views.