China jails rights activist outspoken on Tibet

By Chris Buckley

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Buddhist Chinese dissident outspoken on Tibet and other sensitive topics was jailed for three-and-a-half years on Thursday, a conviction likely to become a focus of rights campaigns ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Hu Jia, 34, was found guilty of "inciting subversion of state power" for criticizing the ruling Communist Party, a verdict that drew quick condemnation from the United States, Britain and the United Nations.

"There is no doubt that this is a decision that is deeply disturbing to us and we are communicating that to the Chinese authorities," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a news conference at a NATO summit in Bucharest.

The official Xinhua news agency said Hu had made a "confession of crime and acceptance of punishment", leading the court to issue a relatively light sentence. Hu's lawyers said he had acknowledged "excesses".

"In the end, I think that he came to accept that some of his statements were contrary to the law as it stands," said defense lawyer Li Jinsong. Hu has 10 days starting on Friday to decide whether to appeal, but Li said he was unlikely to do so.

The "inciting subversion" charge can attract a jail term of five years or longer, and before the hearing Hu's other lawyer, Li Fangping, said a long sentence was likely.

After the sentencing he denounced it as nonetheless unjust.

"It's the defense position that citizens have the right to free speech," Li Fangping told reporters outside the court.

"The law on inciting subversion of state power doesn't have a clear boundary, but the Constitution guarantees citizens freedom of speech."

China's Foreign Ministry defended the verdict and said critics were meddling in the country's internal affairs.

Another Chinese dissident, Yang Chunlin, who called for human rights to take precedence over the Olympic Games, was sentenced to five years in jail in March for the same crime.

The court heard that from August 2006 to October 2007, Hu posted articles on overseas-run Web sites, made comments to foreign media and "repeatedly instigated other people to subvert the state's political power and socialist system", Xinhua said.

DOZENS OF WELL-WISHERS

Dozens of well-wishers gathered outside the court to express support for Hu and air their own grievances, milling around with foreign reporters and diplomats who were kept out of the court.

"Hu Jia is a hero to us because he stood up to speak out, so we should also speak out," said one of the supporters, Li Hai.