"Subversion" charges which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty continue to be used widely to detain and imprison rights activists in China. Since the beginning of November 2002, at least ten people have reportedly been detained by the Chinese authorities in connection with their peaceful activities, such as petitioning the authorities and publishing or accessing information on the Internet. At least two have been charged with "inciting subversion".
"These cases contradict recent positive developments such as the early release on 24 December of long-term dissident Xu Wenli who was also convicted of ‘subversion’," Amnesty International said.
"For every single individual released, many more continue to be detained in China in violation of their fundamental human rights," the international human rights organization continued, adding that the institutional framework that allows such violations in China remains unchanged.
"These cases contradict recent positive developments such as the early release on 24 December of long-term dissident Xu Wenli who was also convicted of ‘subversion’," Amnesty International said.
"For every single individual released, many more continue to be detained in China in violation of their fundamental human rights," the international human rights organization continued, adding that the institutional framework that allows such violations in China remains unchanged.