By KUNA
London : Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband has described the imprisonment of a vocal human rights campaigner in China as a “concerning development.” Miliband said in a statement late Thursday night that the imprisonment of 34-year-old Hu Jia for three years and six months undermined the country’s record on human rights.
He added his criticism to growing international calls for Hu Jia to be released as China comes under the spotlight ahead of this summer’s Beijing Olympic Games.
The Chinese campaigner was convicted of “inciting subversion of state power” based on internet articles he had written and interviews he gave to foreign media.
“Today’s sentencing of the Chinese human rights defender Hu Jia for peacefully expressing critical opinions is a most concerning development,” the Foreign Secretary said.
“It undermines the right to freedom of expression enshrined in international human rights conventions as well as China’s own constitution.
“I raised Hu Jia’s case during my visit to Beijing in February this year. The EU has also made its concerns clear,” Miliband pointed out.
“I now repeat my call on China to respect the right of human rights defenders such as Hu Jia to express their views freely, and the right of all Chinese citizens to remain free from arbitrary detention,” he continued.
Miliband said he was particularly concerned about Hu Jia’s medical condition and called on the Chinese authorities to give him full access to treatment.
The jailed campaigner was kept under house arrest at his Beijing apartment for more than 200 days before his arrest last December.