CHARGE'S CALL WITH DISSIDENT'S WIFE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003373 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2029 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV SOCI CH SUBJECT: CHARGE'S CALL WITH DISSIDENT'S WIFE REF: A. BEIJING 3321 ¶B. BEIJING 3081 ¶C. BEIJING 1734 ¶D. 08 BEIJING 4493 ¶1. (C) On December 17, Charge d'Affaires Robert Goldberg telephoned Liu Xia, the wife of detained Charter 08 drafter Liu Xiaobo, to convey USG concerns regarding her husband's case and sympathy for the difficulties she faced. The Charge told Liu Xia that United States believed that Liu Xiaobo had been detained and charged solely as a result of having exercised his right to free expression by writing and signing Charter 08. (Reftels B-D.) The USG has repeatedly raised Liu Xiaobo's case in Washington and Beijing, the Charge noted, most recently in a letter from Ambassador Huntsman to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and by the State Department spokesperson on December 14 and 16. The United States, he said, would continue to engage the Chinese government to urge Liu's immediate release, to respect those rights it had itself guaranteed in the PRC Constitution, and to protect internationally recognized freedoms for all Chinese citizens. The Charge told Liu Xia that the Embassy would welcome her suggestions on how the USG could support her and her husband. ¶2. (C) Liu Xia expressed appreciation for the call and the efforts of the USG on her husband,s behalf. She noted that it was a difficult time for her and her husband; likely aware that the call was being monitored by the Chinese authorities, she did not make any suggestions for USG action or requests for assistance. ¶3. (C) The Charge invited Liu Xia to keep in close contact with the Embassy and expressed his willingness to meet with her at a time of her choosing. GOLDBERG