The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is dismayed to learn that several writers and human rights activists were detained or harassed by authorities in China after they signed a joint statement calling on the National People’s Congress Standing Committee to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The statement, issued on the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, also launched Charter 08, which demands bold political reforms that promote human rights and democracy and articulate the principles for a platform of citizens’ actions.

On December 8, writers Liu Xiaobo and Zhang Zuhua were interrogated by officials of the Beijing Public Security Bureau and the Ministry of State Security after they signed Charter 08. The IFJ is informed that Liu is still detained.

Police ransacked Zhang’s house. Some of his belongings, including computers, notebooks and passbooks were confiscated.

Wen Kejian, Chen Xi, Shen Younian and Du Heping, who are writers and human rights activists, were detained and questioned separately by police in Guizhou and Hangzhou. They were warned the assembly of the Fourth Guizhou Citizens’ Forum on Human Rights on December 10 was “illegal”.

“The IFJ calls on authorities in China to abide by the principles of China’s Constitution and end the harassment of those who seek to express their views, including writers detained because they called for ICCPR ratification and reforms to support human rights in China,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.

“As a signatory to the ICCPR, China needs to ratify its commitment to the Convention’s principles, including freedom of expression. Ratification would bring China’s position in line with its own Constitution, which enshrines freedom of expression as a right.

“The IFJ urges the National People’s Congress Standing Committee to ratify the ICCPR and support the Charter 08.”

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide