From: HRIC_SW@HRW.ORG

Date: Mon, 28 Oct 96 16:32:20 EST

Subject: urgent--Wang Dan petition

25 October 1996

Your Name in Support for WANG Dan

Human Rights in China (HRIC) is sponsoring a petition to request the release of detained Chinese dissident Wang Dan. His trial has been scheduled for Wednesday 30 October. Wang Dan has been indicted for "conspiring to subvert the government," a capital offense which carries a minimum of ten years' imprisonment.

To: Jiang Zemin, President of the People's Republic of China

Li Peng, Premier of the People's Republic of China

The signatories strongly protest the illegal detention of and the charges held against Chinese dissident Wang Dan. An advocate of human rights and political reform, Wang Dan has always acted through open, peaceful and legal means.

We firmly believe that the charges held against Wang Dan are preposterous and request that they be dropped. We appeal to the Chinese government's sense of justice and compassion and remind it of its commitment to respect human rights and the rule of law. We urge the Chinese government to release Wang Dan immediately and without any condition, in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Individuals and organizations are invited to add their names to this petition and to pass it around widely. Please return a copy to hrichina@igc.org.

Name/Title/Organization: