Agence France Presse

Beijing, March 18:

A group of 100 Chinese dissidents have written an open letter to the government demanding the release of Zhao Xin, arrested for applying to hold a protest march in memory of late ousted leader Zhao Ziyang. Zhao, 37, was placed under house arrest on January 18, the day Zhao Ziyang died, and was taken away by police days later, his wife Yu Ningshen said. He was formally charged with “disturbing social order” on February 24, his wife said. “During the entire mourning period for Zhao Ziyang, all demands by Zhao Xin, including his request to hold a protest march, were done from his home where his movements were restricted by police,” said a copy of the letter.

“There is no way he could have met the conditions of the criminal code on disturbing social order,” it said. “The Public Security Bureau should immediately drop plans to bring the case to trial and return Zhao Xin his freedom.” Police have refused to say where he is being held and have not allowed him to speak with his lawyer, his wife said. The open letter was signed by noted dissidents such as Ren Wanding, Liao Yiwu and Lin Xinshu.