Call for charges to be dropped after cyber-dissident Wang Dejia is freed

Reporters Without Borders welcomes the release of cyber-dissident Wang Dejia on 12 January but is surprised he still faces charges of “inciting subversion of state authority,” which were brought against him after his arrest on 13 December. “It is rare for political prisoners in China to be freed while they await trial,” the press freedom organisation said. “Wang's release suggests that he is not facing a jail sentence. We call on the authorities to drop the charges against him. His detention seems to have served no other purpose than to try to intimidate him.” Wang, who is better known by the pen-name of Jing Chu, said he thought the authorities freed him because of the international campaign for his release. He said they asked him not to post any political articles or comments online “attacking party or state officials” or “inciting subversion of state authority.” He added that he accepted these conditions “temporarily” in order to “maintain his chances of being able to write again another day.” Wang was arrested because of articles he posted on the Minzhu Luntan (http://asiademo.org/) website in which, inter alia, he criticised the way the Beijing Olympics are being organised.