CHINESE COURT DENIES APPEAL BY JAILED ACTIVIST

BEIJING COURT REJECTS APPEAL AND UPHOLDS
INITIAL SENTENCE OF DISSIDENT LIU XIAOBO

BEIJING (Xinhua) - A court in Beijing denied an appeal by one of China’s best-known democracy advocates on Thursday and upheld his 11-year prison sentence, human rights activists said. The Higher People's Court of Beijing rejected Liu Xiaobo's appeal and upheld the first trial's verdict of agitation aimed at subverting the government. Beijing's First Intermediate People's Court sentenced Liu to 11 years in prison on Dec. 25, 2009. "Liu's verdict is sound on legal basis and factual proof," said Prof. Gao Mingxuan, president of the International Association of Penal Law China Branch. Although freedom of expression is an extremely important right of Chinese citizens and protected by China's Constitution and laws, Gao said citizens could not exercise the right without any restrictions whatsoever. According to China's Constitution, Chinese citizens' exercise of their freedoms and rights should not infringe upon the interests of the state, of society, or the collective, or upon the lawful freedoms and rights of other citizens. Gao said that freedom of expression may be subject to certain lawful restrictions necessary for the respect of the rights or reputations of others and the protection of national security and public order. He said Liu had published a number of articles which exceeded the boundaries of freedom of expression. Liu had spread anti-government rumors and slanders, and had organized and persuaded other people to join activities aimed at overturning the current government, Gao said, adding that his conduct was dangerous to the country.

According to the Court, Liu spread his agitation through the Internet by using the network's speed and its ability to grab vast public attention. He also organized and induced others to sign the petition, which has been widely linked to, republished and browsed on the Internet. Liu's wife, Liu Xia, said she was not surprised by the court decision. She said the only thing her husband said inside the court during the appeal hearing was "I am innocent." Liu co-wrote "Charter 08," an unusually direct appeal to China's authorities calling for expanded political freedoms and the end to Communist Party dominance. More than 300 people, including some of the country's top intellectuals, signed it before it was made public in December 2008.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

To determine the root-cause of unrest we ought first to determine the meaning of the self. I strongly believe, that ignorance of our real-self is the cause of unrest, discord and anxiety. ... It has already been stated that differences in the individuals are unavoidable as they are conscious units. Now the problem is to find a common ground and interest for the solution of these differences. A sense of common interest can be fostered among individuals, if they know that they are inter-connected, are parts of one Organic System and are the sons and daughters of one Father.

Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Madhava Mahārāja :
“Realistic Solution for Diverse Humanity”
Speech at a ‘Spiritual Summit Conference’ - 1968 Calcutta.
http://www.sreecgmath.org/scgmtimes/scgmsbdm.php