|
 The activists were freed a day after the 25th anniversary of the
bloody crackdown, marked by tens of thousands of people in Hong
Kong, even as Chinese authorities sought to whitewash the event in
the mainland.
Two of their peers remained in custody.
The detentions had sparked criticism from the United States and the
European Union, with both calling for their release. China issued
new, stronger objections to renewed complaints from the United
States and lodged a diplomatic protest.
For the ruling Communist Party, the 1989 demonstrations that clogged
Tiananmen Square in Beijing and spread to other cities remain taboo.
The government has never released a death toll for the crackdown,
but estimates from human rights groups and witnesses range from
several hundred to several thousand.
Liu Di and Hu Shigen, both dissident writers, and Xu Youyu, a
research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a
government think tank, were released on bail, their lawyers and a
relative said.
All three had been detained for "causing a disturbance" in
connection with the meeting held in a private apartment.
The activists' lawyers said the charge lacked evidence. Under
China's bail terms, they could still be indicted, but that prospect
seemed unlikely, said Shang Baojun, a lawyer for Xu.
"It goes without saying that he should have been let out," Shang
said. "Arresting someone for holding a meeting at home, this is too
ridiculous. Prosecuting them for this will be even more outrageous."
The activists had been detained on May 6 after they attended the
meeting to mark the 25th anniversary of the crushing of protests
around Tiananmen Square. A photograph of the gathering had
circulated on the Internet.
It was the first time authorities had charged anyone for
commemorating the crackdown in a home, activists said, showing
China's resolve to snuff out any mention of an event that riveted
the world and convulsed the ruling Communist Party.
Liu, a blogger who became a symbol for free speech when she was
detained in 2002 for criticizing the government, refused to admit
guilt, said Ma Gangquan, her lawyer. Ma said Liu should have been
released because she had no role in organizing the meeting or taking
the photograph distributed on the Internet.
"At the forum, Liu Di's speech had nothing to do with the June 4
issue," Ma said, adding that she had advocated non-violence to bring
about change.
Hu, who had spent 16 years in prison after he planned June 4
memorial activities in 1992, was released on bail, according to his
lawyer, Liang Xiaojun.
[to top of second column] |
TWO ACTIVISTS STILL HELD
Pu Zhiqiang, the best known activist and a leading rights lawyer,
and Hao Jian, who teaches at the Beijing Film Academy, remained in
custody. Hao had hosted the forum at his home.
Under Chinese law, the activists could be held for up to 37 days and
then either formally arrested or released. If convicted of "causing
a disturbance", they face up to five years in prison.
The anniversary prompted several countries to express concern about
rights abuses. Beijing rejected Washington's call for it to account
for those killed in the protests.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was "strongly
dissatisfied" and "firmly opposed" to the U.S. statement, the
official Xinhua news agency said late on Wednesday, adding that it
had "lodged solemn representations" with Washington.
"The U.S. statement on that incident shows a total disregard of
fact," Hong said. "It blames the Chinese government for no reason."
Chinese leaders have defended the use of the army to quell the
protests and said they had chosen the correct path for the sake of
the people.
Japan used the date to urge China to respect human rights and the
rule of law. But Hong said Tokyo had no right to criticize China,
given its wartime aggression on Chinese soil.
"Japan's militarists in the recent period carried out serious crimes
against humanity in Asia, including China, but so far Japan's
leaders still cannot face up to history and reflect on their history
of invasion," Hong told a news briefing.
(Additional reporting by Michael Martina and Ben Blanchard; Editing
by Ron Popeski)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
