(Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 5, 2008) –On August 2, Xie Changfa (谢长发), a member of China Democracy Party, was formally arrested on "inciting subversion of state power".

Xie becomes yet another victim of the nation-wide crackdown on activists and dissidents in the name of "Olympics security". Xie's arrest came shortly after that of Wang Rongqing (王荣清), another member of China Democracy Party who was formally arrested on "inciting subversion of state power" on July 31.

Xie, in his 50s, is a veteran democracy activist based in Changsha City, Hunan Province.  In 1998, he was imprisoned for organizing China Democracy Party Hunan Branch. On June 10, 2008, Xie met up with another member of China Democracy Party, Yue Tianxiang (岳天祥). Following the meeting, Xie was put under tightened monitoring. In late June, Xie was taken into detention by the National Security police from Changsha Public Security Bureau (PSB) Yuhua Sub-division. On June 25, Xie was criminally detained on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power". Xie's arrest is believed to be related to his activities associated with the China Democracy Party, as police searched his home and confiscated copies of the bylaws and publicity materials of the China Democracy Party.

For more information, please see:
"Olympics Security" Crackdown Sends Veteran Democracy Activist to Criminal Detention
(August 4, 2008)