Update: On Thursday morning, Hu Jia was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison.
Hu Jia goes back on ‘trial’ in a few hours where it is expected he will be handed down a sentence of up to five years in prison based on two interviews given and six unspecified blog posts most of which written during the more than one year he spent under house arrest.
Charging Hu with state subversion is proving as difficult for the legal process as it is for Chinese premier Wen Jiabao; when asked directly last month, during one of the most public appearances Wen gives each year, about Hu Jia's situation, the response Wen gave sounded to many like a denial that any ‘dissidents’ had even been arrested.
Playing Captain Kangaroo may work in Zhongnanhai, but the reality that Hu and Zeng and their supporters have chosen to live in goes more like a Kanye West song. When Hu was first kidnapped around this time two years ago, Zeng Jinyan started a blog on which she documented the bureaucratic games she saw being played as she ran around Beijing trying unsuccessfully to find out what had happened to her husband, who was dropped off miles from home and with no notice over a month later.
When Zeng herself soon became subject to constant surveillance, she slammed on the brakes and started getting in their face.
Placing Hu under ongoing house arrest in 2006 effectively put an end to the environmental protection and AIDS awareness work for which he had already become quite well-known, and so trapped at home with little more than an internet connection, he not only created a whole new approach to activism, which some are calling Tiananmen 2.0, he switched gears to become a social worker of sorts, enabled by technology to keep constant track of a whole range of cases, and where possible, enabling others [zh] to do the same.
In 2007, Zeng Jinyan was chosen by TIME Magazine as one of the most influential people in the world.
This will no doubt go down as a landmark moment in Chinese history, but to this day anyone looking to China's largest search engine for more information needs to be prepared for disappointment. In the China of today, though, someone like Hu Jia just doesn't quietly disappear, and when state agents abducted him again last December, near-blind family friend Zheng Mingfang went straight to the streets and did what she could, walking up to strangers and explaining Hu's situation, collecting signatures for a petition calling for his release. Early last month, however, Zheng too was arrested.
On Facebook, there are Hu Jia support groups. There's a cause.
Hu Jia and Zeng Jinyan spent months filming their would-be captors for a documentary, Prisoners in Freedom City. After Hu was abducted a second time in December last year and not quickly released, someone got hold of a copy and put it online, and not just in one place, but several.
Following Hu Jia's arrest late last December, when it came to appear that his and Zeng Jinyan's newborn baby's health was at risk, enough momentum grew out of scattered online chatter that a group of netizens tried to force their way up to Zeng's door to deliver milk powder. When that proved unsuccessful, someone thought it through, and got it right. And still others went on to try.
Hu Jia kept it simple; in preparing posts for his blog, he did interviews over Skype, then sometimes sent them out over e-mail as .mp3 attachments. Clearly there were things he could have done better, but shortly after his arrest we saw the formation of a Netizen Party, with clearly stated intention to stick to using the highly encrypted services offered by Gmail and Skype.
One of the first things the authorities did in December last year when Hu was taken away and Zeng placed under house arrest, where she remains today, was to cut off her internet connection and confiscate her phones. Despite this, Zeng's blog kept on getting updated. And supporters kept translating it.
The second she got her cellphone back, Zeng started sending out photos. When Hu had his first day in court, we saw drive-by vlogging. Zeng's even managed to release a podcast.
Wen Jiabao almost seems justified in denying that any activists or netizens have or are being detained, given all the networks of bloggers out there so equally resolved not to accept it. If the bogus charges against Hu do somehow end up being dropped today, we only have more of ingenuity in blogging to look forward to. If they don't, and Zeng and her daughter remain captive to their squadron of nosepickers, didn't China finally launch 3G networks this week? It won't be long before we'll see a House Arrested Beijing channel on Qik.com.
Speaking of which, a post this week on Zeng Jinyan's blog says that Hu's trial at 9:30 a.m. on April 3 in courtroom 23 at Beijing #1 People's Intermediate Court will be open proceedings, and Zeng intends to be there.
Here's a poem from Hu-Zeng friend Teng Biao, written in prison after he himself was kidnapped for two days early last month and translated now by Under the Jacaranda Tree blogger C.A. Yeung, ‘To my wife, from jail‘:
Presently as I confront prison walls,
Now I write this poem for you, my Love, my Lady, my Wife.
Even tonight, the stars glitter in the cold sky of apparent isolation.
Glowworms yet appear and disappear among the shrubs.Please explain to our child why I did not have a chance
to bid her farewell. I was compelled to embark on a long journey away from home.
And so, everyday before our daughter goes to bed,
And when she awakes in the morning,
I will entrust to you, my Lady, my Love, my Wife:
I entrust to you, my warm kisses on our daughter’s cheeks.Please let our child touch the herbs beneath the stockade.
In the morning on a beautiful sunlit day,
If she notices the dew on the leaves,
She will experience my deep love for her.Please play the Fisherman’s Song every time you water the cloves.
I should be able to hear the song, my love.
Please take good care of our silent but happy goldfish.
Hidden in their silence are memories of my glamourous and turbulent youth.I tread a rugged road,
But let me reassure you: I have never stopped singing, my Love.
The leaves of the roadside willow tree have gradually changed colour.
Some noises of melting snow approach from afar.Noises are engulfed in silence. This is just a very simple night.
When you think of me, please do not sigh, my Love.
The torrents of my agonies have merged with the torrents of my happiness.
Both rivers now run through my mortal corpse.Before the drizzle halts,
I would have returned to your side, my Lady.
I cannot dry your tears while I am drenched in rain;
I can do so only with a redeemed soul after these times of testing.
89 comments
Kent State was a tragic event. Please note that I was referring to Regular Army soldiers. It was the National Guard, our part time civilian militia that fired the shots. Besides, my point about the army should be obvious.
To set the record straight:
The FCC was established in 1934. Since then, there has never been a radio station or Television Station shut down by the FCC. Fewer than 1 percent of the license renewals are not immediately renewed. Still fewer are not renewed.
Do you know the definition of Libel? It is one of our rights to bring suits against any one, any business, who slanders or defames. Even non-US Citizens living and working in my country can bring Libel suits and seek damages…..even if the defendant is a large company.
“Please note that I was referring to Regular Army soldiers. It was the National Guard, our part time civilian militia that fired the shots.”
Now come on Frank let’s be sincere in our argument. I was just starting to get hopeful of some meaningful dialogue. So, by the same token, all those national guard solidiers serving in Iraq are just a bunch of trigger happy militiaman running amok?
I hope you are encouraging same kind of debate from your friend from Shanghai or he just happen to agree with everything you say?
@Frank Calamia
Hold ur pathetic imagination about China,i live in china and i found ur statement is ridiculous.and i am gonna ask you what has ur country done for “the betterment of mankind”? sending troops to middle-east to overthrow an legal goverment for OIL? sending CIA angents to do all the dirty job in other country? your ignorant statement revealed that u donnt understand chinese people.
Ok, I promised I won’t post on this thread anymore but I could not resist.
Frank, it’s not THAT hard to scroll up and see what you had posted, for it was you who implied that Chinese have no control over where they work or their own careers. After I suggested you are wrong over this fact, you are now saying that I am ignorant? Hey, it wasn’t me who made a factual mistake, it was you. A 12 year old could argue better than that.
Regarding the choices of stability over freedom, it’s obvious that many people would choose the former. It’s you who can’t accept this simple fact. When I asked you to explain how could people in Singapore choose on their freewill stability over political freedom if you claim that human freedom is the most important thing, you went off an tangent, made some personal attacks (which I am fine with btw since I make them too), bragged about how much you know about the world, and then asked me what good has Chinese government done to mankind? What does that have to do with anything? Can you just simply answer my question with your enhanced understanding of different cultures?
“The people of China’s spirit is locked in a box. I hope someone finds the key so China’s potential will be fully achieved.” ^_^ very interesting! now the spirit of us is locked, ur country consider us as a “threat” and deploy troops and missiles around China, one day when our potential is fully achieved, what will u do? to drop several nukebombs directly on our head??!!hhaa you know ur country and u keep reminding me of one word: HYPOCRICY.
Perhaps you can not tell the difference between “Federal” troops and “State Troops.” And, this then, is the point. The Government of the United States does not send in the Army!! The State of Ohio dispatched its National Guard to Kent State. Perhaps you should go to this link and read about it….
http://dept.kent.edu/sociology/lewis/lewihen.htm
With respect to the National Guard in Iraq: I resent your inference that they are trigger happy militiaman. Do you want a meaningful dialogue or just more bs in a lame attempt to prove a point. The National Guard structure of 1970 is no where near what it is today. Then, the NG was primarily designated as a strategic reserve force for the Federal Government. The NG of 1970 was used most often as a State resource. Today, the NG is a fully integrated element of the Active components of the US Military.
By the way, lets keep to the subject of this debate. Hu Jia is an example of how oppressive the Communist Party in China is to citizens speaking out for human rights and freedom. Why is the government of China so afraid of free speech? Ur chinese friend seems to advocate that Hu Jia’s actions would lead to a break down of order and discipline in China’s society. His preference, and that of many Chinese people, is for stability instead of political freedom, and the right to choose your own government leaders. What say you to his arguement?
Dear Tristin:“The people of China’s spirit is locked in a box…”
American’s are not afraid of China. Yet, since the revolution, your country has barraged you with information that America is your enemy. I am not pleased with the actions of my government all of the time. I certainly would never support acts of aggression against the Chinese people. It is governments that sound the drum beat of war. I am afraid that both our governments could use propaganda to start a war one day. Particularly troubling in my government’s pacts with Taiwan. This may come as a surprise to you, but I believe Taiwan is part of the Middle Kingdom. It is liken to Hawaii for the US. Would we fight to keep Hawaii? You bet we would.
In my travels to Europe and South East Asia, I had the pleasure of dinning with families in these countries. I learned that families are all the same irrespective of what country you are in. We all want peace, prosperity, and a better life for our children.
While in Vietnam, I visited a professor’s home. In the privacy of his home we talked politics. We both agreed, that the war in Vietnam caused the change in government from one corrupt entity to another. China is not so different. Chiang Kai-Shek was a corrupt, murderous, leader who managed to unite China for a time. Following his ouster by the communist, a new, equally corrupt and murderous government was installed.
The only hope for peace in our time is for China to become more democratic and less fearful of Americans.
@Frank Calamia
“What have you invented other than gun powder?”
Now Mr. Calamia, I admit I was dead wrong by being hopeful. I thought you were a decent person with a real passion to help China but it turned out you seemed to be another reinforcing example of stereotypical American. Maybe you believe truly in your heart that you’re helping your friend from Shanghai escaping from tyranny. But I’m hope you were not requiring him to submit to all of your opinions as the condition of your sponsorship, unless he happens to agree with everything you say.
I’m sure there will be a lot contribution about the story of “gun powder” from many of these Chinese posters, whom many of you accuse as government agents but yet seemed to much more diligent and passionate about their “job” then the lazy, inefficient, mahjong experts you often meet in government agencies there.
Please do have a blast there but remember: don’t drink and drive and stay away from the hooligans cause they are unpredictable!
As for me, sorry I can not come to your party. Because one, I do have to take my children to school and go to work, and two, I will be busy searching Travelocity with the hope that people will start cancelling their trips so I can get a better deal to go to China in the summer. You won’t believe how much they ask for a round trip China tickets these days. See I’m a shallow person with earthy goals.
FYI, I always thought it was a silly idea to plan the relay like they did. But then again what can you do. It’s the government.
The truth is that the actions of the U.S. have often failed to measure up to its own rhetoric. This is obvious to anyone who has examined the country’s policy in the Middle East since the middle of the last century and the response to 9/11. It’s also true that ordinary mainland Chinese have more freedom now than at any point in the country’s modern history.
Hopefully, the U.S. will begin to right the wrongs of the past half century, not to mention the past seven years, and be the example it could be. I’m also hopeful that China will eventually stop detaining and imprisoning people like Hu Jia, who have the best interests of the Chinese people at heart.
Long live the memory and spirit of MLK.