Liu Xia says she fears long sentence for husband seized a year ago tomorrow over Charter 08 plea for democratic reforms

guardian.co.uk
Monday 7 December 2009
Tania Branigan in Beijing

The wife of one of China’s best-known dissidents said today she was losing hope for his release, one year after police seized him at their home in Beijing.

Liu Xiaobo was taken away on 8 December last year, a day before the publication of Charter 08, a plea for democratic reforms that he co-authored. He was formally arrested in June on suspicion of inciting the subversion of state power.

“I am not optimistic … Personally I have already prepared for the worst result,” said Liu Xia on the eve of the anniversary of her husband’s detention. She said it was “very possible” he could be sentenced to more than 10 years.

“My biggest hope is that the public can still pay attention to his case and Xiaobo can come back home soon. But I am more worried about this case than other times in the past because this time the allegation is so serious,” she said.    more …