BBC News – China open letter calls for political reforms

Some of China's most prominent scholars, journalists and activists have released an open letter urging leaders to implement political reforms, for the second time in three months.

More than 100 people signed the open letter urging Beijing to ratify an international human rights treaty.

The letter was posted on several prominent Chinese websites and blogs.

It comes just days before Chinese leaders gather for the annual parliamentary session in Beijing.

At the meeting, new Communist Party leader Xi Jinping will be installed as China's president, taking over from Hu Jintao, completing the 10-yearly power transition.

'Feasible goal'

"We solemnly and openly propose the following as citizens of China," the letter begins, "that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) be ratified, in order to further promote and establish the principles of human rights and constitutionalism in China."

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Signatories to the letter

• Dai Qing: Activist and writer. A one-time Communist Party member, Dai quit the party in 1989 after her book, Yangtze! Yangtze!, protesting the construction of the Three Gorges dam, was banned by the authorities. Since then, she has spoken out on a variety of environmental and political issues.
• Pu Zhiqiang: Human rights lawyer. Pu is a Beijing-based human rights lawyer with a long list of sensitive clients, including renowned artist Ai Weiwei and Tibetan environmentalist Karma Samdrop.
• Wang Keqin: Investigative journalist. Wang is a top investigative reporter in China. For decades, he has made his name exposing crime and corruption at all levels of Chinese society.
• Mao Yushi: Economist. Mao is a an outspoken proponent of free markets and a more transparent political system in China. Mao is one of the founders of the Unirule Institute of Economics, an independent think tank that advocates for political and economic reform in China.
• He Weifang: Legal Scholar. A professor at the Peking University Law School, He Weifang has made his name pushing for legal reform and the establishment of the rule of law within China.

The ICCPR is part of the International Bill of Human Rights created by the United Nations. It calls for basic civil and political rights of individuals, including freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

via www.bbc.co.uk