Text of report by Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy on 30 June

["Former Pro-Democracy Sichuan Student Leader Liu Xianbin Has Been Arrested on a Charge of 'Instigating Subversion Against State Power' for Supporting Tan Zuoren" - source-supplied headline]

Our information centre has learned that Liu Xianbin, Sichuan's famous dissident and former leader of the 4 June pro-democracy students' movement, who had earlier been released from 13 years' imprisonment, was taken away by public security personnel on 28 June. Today he was officially placed under criminal detention by Sichuan's Suining City Public Security Bureau on a charge of "instigating subversion against state power." He was arrested again because he wrote an article in support of Tan Zuoren and Wang Qi. He had published or was going to publish articles to support them. Prior to the anniversary of the 5 July incident, the Central Commission of Political Science and Law issued a secret document demanding a "strike hard" against "hostile forces." It is believed that more dissidents will be arrested in the coming few days.

According to what our information centre has learned, after Tan Zuoren and Wang Qi were sentenced to imprisonment, Liu Xianbin published an article saying that "there are many justice fighters in Sichuan; they are like chives, which grow again after being cut." On 9 June, the Sichuan Provincial Higher Court declined Tan Zuoren's appeal and refused the European Union's demand for the release of Tan Zuoren. Over the past few days, Liu Xianbin was writing another article to support Tan Zuoren. But Liu was taken away on 28 June and his house was ransacked. Today he was officially charged with "instigating subversion against state power" and placed under criminal detention. It is believed that Liu Xianbin's arrest has much to do with the tense atmosphere related to the anniversary of the 5 July incident. Recently the whole country was relaying the document of the Central Commission of Political Science and Law, which demands taking severe measures against domestic and overseas "hostile forces" besides carrying out "strike hard" on "Xinjiang independence."

Liu Xianbin, born on 2 October 1968, was a student of the Chinese People's University during the 4 June pro-democracy movement. He was jailed for two and a half years after the 4 June movement. In 1999, he was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for organizing the "China Democratic Party." He was released in November 2008.

Written on 30 June 2010.

Source: Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Hong Kong, in Chinese 30 Jun 10