On the morning of December 26, the Guiyang Municipal Intermediate People’s Court of Guizhou Province sentenced veteran dissident and human rights activist Chen Xi (陈西), to ten years prison and three years’ deprivation of political right for “inciting subversion of state power.” This heavy sentence follows the nine-year term imposed on Sichuan dissident Chen Wei (陈卫) three days ago. Chen Xi insists on his innocence but will not appeal.
Chen Xi’s wife, Zhang Qunxuan (张群选), told Human Rights in China, “The court hearing started at 9 a.m. and concluded by 12:30 p.m. The prosecution against Chen Xi was based upon his publication of 36 articles overseas. Chen Xi’s lawyers, Sun Guangquan (孙光全) and Bai Min (白敏), defended him on his not-guilty plea. In his self-defense in court, Chen Xi stated, ‘All the activities I have been engaged in are just and honorable, all in the open. Since I was released from prison on 2005, State Security has had communications with me on a weekly basis. They are aware of everything that I have been doing, and everything can be put on the table. So why had the law enforcement [authorities] not pointed out that I was committing a crime?’ When the presiding judge allowed Chen Xi to make his final statement, Chen Xi said, ‘I am a law-abiding person. I respect the court’s decision; I will not appeal.’”
Zhang added, “We made a final request to see Chen Xi, but the presiding judge denied the request. They are really heartless. The prosecution took his writings out of context. Actually, Chen Xi was calling for democracy and human rights. This wish was [his] whole crime!”
“The Chinese authorities’ ongoing tactic of imprisoning Chinese citizens will not address the deepening social conflicts in China. Instead, it will intensify them,” said Sharon Hom, Executive Director of Human Rights in China. “The march of heavy sentences imposed on democracy activists should be a wake-up call to the international community: China is at a critical crossroads and these activists need effective and immediate support.”
This is Chen Xi’s third prison sentence. During the period of the 1989 Democracy Movement, he was sentenced to three years for establishing the Patriotic and Democratic Federation. After his release, he continued to work for democracy and engage in human rights activities. He was sentenced to another ten years in March 1996 for organizing the Guizhou branch of the China Democracy Party, and pressing for redress for the 1989 crackdown. While in prison, he was beaten savagely and repeatedly by other prisoners reportedly instigated by the prison authorities.
After his release from prison in 2005, Chen Xi and other Guizhou activists established the First Guizhou Citizens International Human Rights Symposium that they subsequently convened on a yearly basis. On this foundation, they formed the Guizhou Human Rights Seminar, a weekly study and discussion session, to promote human rights. On the eve of International Human Rights Day this year, the local authorities banned the seminar as an illegal organization.
For more information on Chen Xi and rights defenders in Guizhou, see:
- “Democracy Activist Chen Wei Gets Nine Years for Inciting Subversion,” December 23, 2011
- Lu Yongxiang, “Why Is Chen Xi Charged a Criminal?,” December 23, 2011 (Chinese only)
- Mi Chongbiao, “If Chen Xi Is Guilty, Then So Am I,” December 23, 2011 (Chinese only)
- “Guizhou Authorities Suppress Activities to Commemorate June Fourth,” June 2, 2010
- “Rights Activists Illegally Held, Harassed Before Human Rights Day,” December 8, 2009
- “Two Guizhou Rights Activists Detained,” December 5, 2008
- “Guizhou Police Threaten Rights Group over Commemoration of 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” November 13, 2008
- “Human Rights Situation in China Worsens as Bush Calls for a More Open Society,” August 7, 2008
- “Rights Crackdown Intensifies a Month before the Games,” July 8, 2008
- “Activist Issues Statement Urging International Attention to Ban of Human Rights Day in Guizhou,” January 25, 2008
- “Buddhist Monk Shengguan Prevented From Attending Human Rights Conference,” December 10, 2007