| 
Hu Jia (pronounced who-jee-AH), a well-known and successful Chinese human-rights activisit, was arrested and taken from his apartment in Beijing, China over a month ago. He was formally charged just a few days ago with "inciting subversion of state power." His wife and 2-month old child were placed under house arrest at that time, making Hu Qianci, his daughter, currently China's youngest political prisoner.
Before his arrest on December 30, 2007, Hu Jia was under house arrest. During that time he created a video diary/documentary of the Chinese police and security officials outside his apartment, guarding the doors, harassing his wife, following her to work everyday (by foot and by car), eating, sleeping, and playing cards outside his apartment building, making sure Hu Jia did not leave his apartment. His apartment complex is ironically named "Freedom City".
Other Chinese activists have reacted to the situation, doing their best to take baby powder and other essentials to his wife and baby in their apartment, sometimes sneaking around security and police to do so.
John Kennedy of the organization Global Voices wrote "Bloggers from different parts of the country started talking about a milk powder delivery mission, and now the exact location of (Hu Jia's) home in BOBO Freedom City is neatly marked on Google Maps, with notes of where to watch out for the secret police." A petition can be signed here:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/demand-immediate-release-of-beijing-human-rights-activist-hu-jia.html And his video diary, "Prisoners in Freedom City", can be viewed for free on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1134FBCB1DF99E89 |
