U.S. Embassy Calls for Immediate Release of American Detainees

Public Affairs Section
American Embassy, Beijing
Tel: 6532-1161 Fax: 6532-2951
Chinese website: http://chinese.usembassy-china.org.cn
English website: http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn
August 24, 2008

U.S. Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Jr., on August 23 pressed the Chinese government for the immediate release of eight Americans currently being detained in Beijing. We are continuing to raise our concerns at senior levels of the Chinese government and to follow their cases closely.

Consular officials from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing met with the eight detained Americans on August 22 in Beijing. The detainees have not claimed any maltreatment.

• James Powderly, Brian Conley, Jeffrey Rae, Jeff Goldin, Michael Liss and Tom Grant – members of the group "Free Tibet Reporters" – were detained in the early hours of August 20 and, according to Chinese authorities, will be released on August 30.
• Jeremy Wells and John Watterberg were detained on August 21 after hanging a "Free Tibet" banner near an Olympic venue and, according to Chinese authorities, will be released on August 31.
• All eight Americans being held have authorized privacy act waivers, allowing us to share this information.

While administrative detentions of 10-14 days are possible when foreign nationals are accused of minor offenses in China, this is the first time during the period of the Olympic Games that we are aware of a detention lasting beyond one day.

We encourage the government of China to demonstrate respect for human rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of religion, of all people during the Olympic Games and beyond. These rights are protected by China’s own constitution and by international human rights standards to which China has agreed. We are disappointed that China has not used the occasion of the Olympics to demonstrate greater tolerance and openness.