Chinese writer and scholar Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison on December 25, 2009. He was charged with "inciting subversion of state power" for his role as the primary author of Charter 08, a call for increased democratic reforms and greater freedom in China. When Charter 08 was released in 2008, more than 300 scholars and writers signed it; since then, 10,000 Chinese citizens have done so.
Liu Xiaobo has been detained since the eve of the release of Charter 08. The international community and foreign governments have repeatedly asked China to release him. Prior to his trial, the Chinese government warned the European Union and the U.S. not to interfere in Liu’s case. On December 29, the spokeswoman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Liu’s trial completely followed China’s law and legal proceedings. She requested foreign organizations and countries not to interfere in China’s internal affairs.
Sources:
1. VOA, December 15, 2009
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/CHINA-DISSIDENT-20091215-79292177.html
2. China Website, December 29, 2009
http://lianghui.china.com.cn/news/txt/2009-12/29/content_19152414.htm
3. LA Times, December 28, 2009
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/12/liu-xiaobo.html