In March, 2010, Google Corporation decided that it would no longer continue censoring the contents of Google in China, as required by that country’s government. Earlier attacks on the privacy of the Google network led to this decision, including evidence that the Gmail counts of human rights activists in China were being accessed. The company’s decision redirected users in mainland China to ... Continue Reading>>
CCS applauds Google for their stand on China
Recent attacks on Google email systems in China compromised the privacy of communications by human rights activists. We have been advocating for many years on behalf of Chinese academics and other professionals who peacefully protest government policy. Lately, peaceful expressions in China of almost any political views that the authorities characterize as subversive have been punished by long ... Continue Reading>>
Liu Xiaobo still imprisoned
Letter on behalf of Liu Xiaobo by Vaclav Havel, Pavel Landovsky, and Vaclav Maly Originally published in the Washington Post To His Excellency Hu Jintao President of the People's Republic of China Prague, Jan. 6, 2010 ... Continue Reading>>
Chinese economics professor fired
Professor Wang Quing Ying, a professor of economics at Guangdong University of Technology's Huali College, has been forced to resign from his teaching position under pressure from school authorities. Professor Wang is a signer of Charter 08, which called on China to respect the requirements of its own constitution, of China's international obligations, and of basic human rights. During a recent ... Continue Reading>>
Chinese professor sentenced to ten years in prison
On October 16, 2009, Sugian Intermediate People's Court in Jiangsu Province sentenced Professor Guo Quan, former Nanjing Normal University associate professor and former member of China Democratic League (one of the eight state-approved "democratic" parties) to ten years in prison for "subversion of state power." Between 2007 and 2008, Guo Quan published articles and an open letter on the Internet ... Continue Reading>>
Chinese activist imprisoned
On Monday, November 23, 2009, Huang Qui was sentenced to three years in prison for “illegal possession of state secrets” by the Chengdu Wuhou District Court, Sichuan Province, after being tried in a three-hour secret trial in August, 2008. Huang has been in detention since June, 2008. According to his wife, Zeng Li, his health has seriously deteriorated and he has been diagnosed with an abdominal ... Continue Reading>>
China: Historian unable to leave after serving prison sentence
Professor Tohti Tunyaz: Welcomed the release from prison of Tohti Tunyaz, an Uighur historian and writer, but protested his inability to leave China to rejoin his family in Japan, under restrictions imposed by Chinese authorities. At the time of his arrest, Tohti was studying for a PhD in Uighur history and ethnic relations at Tokyo University, in Japan. Tohti was sentenced to 11 years in prison ... Continue Reading>>
China: over 8,000 sign the petition
Over 8,000 sign the petition by Liu Xiaobo urging their government to comply with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (see http://www.hrichina.org) ... Continue Reading>>
Liu Gang
CCS met the announcement of the trial of the physics graduate student Liu Gang on charges of "conspiracy to overthrow the Government" with cables to Premier Li Peng and leaders of Chinese science. Our message of distress at Liu's being tried for his nonviolent participation in the democracy movement fell on deaf ears as the trial proceeded and culminated in a six- year sentence. This sad ... Continue Reading>>
Fang Lizhi
When the Chinese astrophysicist Fang Li Zhi fell from grace in 1988 for allegedly fomenting student unrest, CCS sprang into action. We sent letters protesting restrictions placed on his travel for participation in scientific exchanges abroad and on contacts with his students at home. A member of our National Board visited him in Beijing to ascertain strategies he wanted pursued. At several ... Continue Reading>>