CNHRA EVENT RECORD · CNHRA-E-418583
Wei Jingsheng: Democracy Wall, First Sentence and Release
Date
1978
Location
Beijing, China
Event Type
Protest · Sentencing · Release
Human Rights Issues
Freedom of Expression · Right to a Fair Trial
Record ID
CNHRA-E-418583
Summary
Description
During the 1978 Democracy Wall discussions, Wei argued in The Fifth Modernization: Democracy that democracy should accompany modernization. He also founded and edited Exploration, publishing political views through an unofficial periodical.[2]
He received fifteen years on October 16, 1979, on charges involving state secrets and counterrevolutionary propaganda. HRW describes prolonged solitary confinement, deteriorating health and prison letters. On release in 1993, he resumed meeting activists and journalists and publishing essays.[1]
The debate concerned who could decide the direction of modernization. The Fifth Modernization argued for popular oversight of rulers and considered political rights alongside economic and technological development.[3]
Developments
Publishes The Fifth Modernization: Democracy
First sentence: fifteen years
Sentenced to fifteen years following Democracy Wall writing and activity, on charges involving state secrets and counterrevolutionary propaganda.[1]
Released after first lengthy imprisonment
Wei was released on parole about six months before the end of his fifteen-year term and resumed writing and meeting activists and journalists.[4]
Related People
Organizations
No organizations have been added.
Documents
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-042847Human Rights Watch
Evidence location: Opening release announcement and background paragraphs on Democracy Wall, the 1979 sentence, 1993 release, 1994 detention and 1995 sentence.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-360711European Parliament
Evidence location: Laureate biography: 1978 manifesto, Exploration, prison terms, 1996 award and 1997 exile.
- [3]
CNHRA-S-751658Wei Jingsheng Foundation
Evidence location: Essay on democracy, popular oversight and modernization.
- [4]
CNHRA-S-487054Amnesty International
Evidence location: ASA 17/44/97, page 1, opening paragraphs and background: medical parole and travel to Detroit the previous day; September 1993 parole.