China jails activist over Olympic appeal

Tights security has been put in place during Beijing's Olympic inspection

HONG KONG, China -- A Chinese court has sentenced a democracy activist to two years "re-education through labor" after she organized a petition to the International Olympic Committee.

Shan Chengfeng, 28, was sentenced for an open letter dated December 31 calling on the IOC to pressure Beijing on its human rights record by demanding the release of all Chinese political prisoners.

According to the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights & Democracy in China, Shan was sent to the labor camp for "disturbing social order".

Her family was informed of the sentencing on Wednesday, the same day that an official Olympic inspection team began a four day visit to Beijing to asses the city's suitability as a venue for the 2008 Games.

Shan is the wife of jailed dissident Wu Yilong and one of 28 dissidents who signed the December 31 letter.

She was arrested on January 15 by police in the eastern province of Zhejiang. Four people detained with Shan were released without charge, the Hong Kong-based Information Centre said.

Wu, a leader of the banned opposition China Democracy party, is serving a 11-year sentence for subversion.

Olympic spirit

Human rights groups have urged IOC delegates to pressure China on human rights

In their letter the dissidents argued that China's suppression of dissent violated the Olympic spirit.

They called for the release of dissidents, including those who tried to register the China Democracy Party as the country's first opposition party in 1998.

The party was outlawed and at least 25 senior members of the party are in prison for subversion.

Founder Xu Wenli is serving a 13-year sentence and is believed to be in poor health.

Chinese authorities have been working round the clock to clear Beijing of unwanted elements, including hawkers, beggars and protesters, ahead of the Olympic inspection visit.

House arrest

Human rights groups say several democracy activists and relatives of jailed dissidents have been kept under virtual house arrest to prevent them contacting the IOC team.

On Monday, Chinese police detained dissidents He Depu and Yang Jing in Beijing, the Information Centre said.

Some IOC members and groups of lawmakers in Britain and the United States oppose Beijing's bid on human rights grounds.

The IOC is expected to make its decision in July over which one of five competitors -- Beijing, Istanbul, Osaka, Toronto and Paris -- will win the right to host the Games.

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International Olympic Committee

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