Lü Gengsong, Du Daobin Receive Independent Chinese PEN Center 2008 "Imprisoned Writer" Awards

Independent Chinese PEN Center awards Lü Gengsong and Du Daobin its 2008 "Imprisoned Writer" Award and comments on nine new honorary members.

The Independent Chinese PEN Center board of directors has approved the recommendation of its Imprisoned Writers Committee and awarded its 2008 second annual Imprisoned Writers Award to Lü Gengsong and Du Daobin. It also approved the proposal of honorary members accorded special scrutiny for the nine imprisoned writers and reporters Lü Gengsong, Hu Jia, He Yanjie, Chen Daojun, Ms. Ceng Hongling, Sun Lin, Zhang Yuhui, Xu Wanping and Hu Mingjun. The umbrella organization International PEN was notified of this decision.

Of the 42 honorary members accorded special scrutiny by the Independent Chinese PEN Center, 19 have been released. 23 remain imprisoned.

Independent Chinese PEN Center earnestly declares that freedom of expression and publication are inalienable human rights. Protecting writers' freedom is a fundamental principle of PEN International's charter. Independent Chinese PEN Center declares its commitment to tirelessly pursue the recovery of the abovementioned writers' freedom.

Independent Chinese PEN Center

PEN International Imprisoned Writers Day
Saturday November 15, 2008