He Depu
Encyclopedia
He Depu is a dissident in the People's Republic of China.
in Beijing. Political activist who took part in the Democracy Wall
movement, he was founder of Beijing Youth magazine in 1979.
In 1998, he helped found the proscribed China Democracy Party
, but lost his job at the Social Sciences Academy
after standing as a candidate in local elections in 1990.
He Depu was tried in a two-hour hearing on 14 October 2002 for his links to the outlawed China Democracy Party, of which he is a member, and for posting essays on the Internet that "incited subversion."
He was one of the 192 signatories of an open letter
to the Sixteenth National Congress
of the Communist Party of China
in November 2002.
On 4 November 2002, he was arrested, and received an eight-year sentence for dissident activity on the Internet on 6 November 2003.
In 2008, he is still in prison and his health is deteriorating in Beijing No. 2 Prison. He suffers from high blood pressure and does not receive appropriate treatment. In August 2008 he sent a letter to International Olympic Committee
head Jacques Rogge
, decrying the conditions in Chinese prisons, which he claims to have worsened.
Biography
He was employed at the Chinese Academy of Social SciencesChinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences , established in 1977, is the premier and highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies in the People's Republic of China. It was described by Foreign Policy...
in Beijing. Political activist who took part in the Democracy Wall
Democracy Wall
The Democracy Wall was a long brick wall on Xidan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, which became the focus for democratic dissent. Beginning in December 1978, in line with the Communist Party of China's policy of "seeking truth from facts," activists in the Democracy movement—such as Xu...
movement, he was founder of Beijing Youth magazine in 1979.
In 1998, he helped found the proscribed China Democracy Party
China Democracy Party
Democracy Party of China is a political party that started in the People's Republic of China, and was banned by the Communist Party of China . The history of the DPC and its foundation date is unclear because it has many historical paths under different groups of founders...
, but lost his job at the Social Sciences Academy
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences , established in 1977, is the premier and highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies in the People's Republic of China. It was described by Foreign Policy...
after standing as a candidate in local elections in 1990.
He Depu was tried in a two-hour hearing on 14 October 2002 for his links to the outlawed China Democracy Party, of which he is a member, and for posting essays on the Internet that "incited subversion."
He was one of the 192 signatories of an open letter
Open letter to the Sixteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China
The Open Letter to the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was a petition from political activists in the People's Republic of China which urged the Chinese Communist Party to introduce political reforms....
to the Sixteenth National Congress
Sixteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China
The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing between November 8-14 2002. 2,114 delegates and 40 specially invited delegates elected a 356-member 16th CPC Central Committee, as well as a 121-member Central Commission for Discipline Inspection...
of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
in November 2002.
On 4 November 2002, he was arrested, and received an eight-year sentence for dissident activity on the Internet on 6 November 2003.
In 2008, he is still in prison and his health is deteriorating in Beijing No. 2 Prison. He suffers from high blood pressure and does not receive appropriate treatment. In August 2008 he sent a letter to International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
head Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge, Count Rogge , is a Belgian sports bureaucrat. He is the eighth and current President of the International Olympic Committee .-Life and career:...
, decrying the conditions in Chinese prisons, which he claims to have worsened.