Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo formally arrested

Times Online/UK, June 24, 2009
Liu Xiaobo

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Liu Xiaobo

Jane Macartney in Beijing

China’s most prominent dissident has been arrested formally after more than six months in detention at a secret location near Beijing on charges that could bring a lengthy prison term.

Liu Xiaobo had been held virtually incommunicado under “residential surveillance”, being allowed only two visits from his wife, since he was taken from his Beijing home on December 8 – a day before publication of a document that he co-authored calling for democracy in China.

State media said: “Liu has been engaged in agitation activities, such as spreading of rumours and defaming of the Government, aimed at subversion of the State and overthrowing the socialism system in recent years.” The arrest was made by the Beijing Public Security Bureau today.

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