Cyber-dissident Du Daobin finally falls victim to permanent threat of reimprisonment

Organisation:

RSF_en

Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of leading cyber-dissident Du Daobin yesterday in the city of Yingcheng, in the central province of Hubei, for allegedly violating the terms of his probation by posting more than 100 articles on overseas websites, leaving the city, and receiving guests without notifying the authorities.

Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of leading cyber-dissident Du Daobin yesterday in the city of Yingcheng, in the central province of Hubei, for allegedly violating the terms of his probation by posting more than 100 articles on overseas websites, leaving the city, and receiving guests without notifying the authorities. In a search of his home, police confiscated computer and letters that were sent to him while he was imprisoned from October 2003 to June 2004. He was released into house arrest on 11 June 2004, when a court convicted him of inciting subversion of the state and sentenced him to three years in prison and four years of house arrest. “Du was living under a permanent threat,” Reporters Without Borders said. “He could have been imprisoned at any time under the sentence he received more than four years ago. He is the third leading cyber-dissident to be imprisoned in the run-up to the Olympic Games, after Hu Jia and Huang Qi.” The press freedom organisation added: “The Chinese authorities fear the influence of these Internet users and find it increasingly difficult to rein them in. We call for Du's release and the withdrawal of the charges against him.” Aged 43, Du posted many articles online calling for more democracy and freedom of expression in China. Prior to his arrest in October 2003, he posts also called for the release of Liu Di, a young student who was imprisoned for posting messages on online forums advocating democracy in China. She was released on 28 November 2003 after more than a year in prison without being tried. More information about Du Daobin

Published on 22.07.2008