Amnesty International Deeply Concerned That China is Pressuring Hu Jia to Plead Guilty

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amnesty International is gravely concerned that the Chinese authorities are putting pressure on human rights activist Hu Jia to plead guilty to crimes against national security.

This comes on the eve of the six month countdown to theBeijing Olympics on August 8, 2008 and is the latest attempt by the authorities to silence domestic activists' public criticism of China's human rights record.

"The potential for a positive human rights legacy for theBeijing Olympics is swiftly being eroded by the Chinese authorities' repression of dissenting voices, including the targeting of activists' families and associates. This goes against the spirit of the Olympic Charter, which places the preservation of human dignity at the heart of the Olympic movement," said Catherine Baber, Director of Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific program.

After months under house arrest, Hu Jia was detained on December 27, 2007. He was formally charged with "inciting subversion" on January 28, 2008. There are fears that he may not be receiving his prescription medication for liver disease resulting from Hepatitis B infection.

Furthermore Hu Jia's wife, Zeng Jinyan, is still under house arrest with their newborn baby. She is not permitted to leave their home, and her telephone line and internet connections have been cut.

InWashington, DC Amnesty International USA members and other activists will gather in Lafayette Park at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, February 11, 2008 to urge Chinese authorities to end human rights abuses prior to the 2008Beijing Olympics. Participants will display signs calling on President Bush to advance human rights inChina as the Olympic Games approach.

SOURCE Amnesty International

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