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China jails rights activist
outspoken on Tibet
Chris Buckley
Reuters
Thursday, April 3, 2008
A Buddhist Chinese dissident outspoken on Tibet and
other sensitive topics was jailed for three-and-a-half years on
Thursday, a conviction likely to become a focus of rights campaigns
ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
Hu Jia, 34, was found guilty of "inciting subversion of
state power" for criticizing the ruling Communist Party,
a verdict at which the United States expressed dismay.
"In this Olympic year, we urge China to seize the opportunity
to put its best face forward and take steps to improve its record
on human rights and religious freedom," the U.S. Embassy
said in a statement.
(Article continues below)
The official Xinhua news agency said Hu had made a "confession
of crime and acceptance of punishment", leading the court
to issue a relatively light sentence. Hu's two lawyers said he
had acknowledged "excesses".
"In the end, I think that he came to accept that some of
his statements were contrary to the law as it stands," said
defense lawyer Li Jinsong.
Hu has 10 days starting on Friday to decide whether to appeal,
but Li said he was unlikely to do so.
The "inciting subversion" charge can attract a jail
term of five years or longer, and before the hearing lawyer Li
Fangping said a long sentence was likely. After the hearing he
said he was unaware of any deal in return for the sentence.
Full
article here.
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