PandaPassport.com – China Blog

Most of you have probably read about China’s Charter 08 by now. Drafted and signed by about prominent Chinese intellectuals, dissidents Charter 08 calls for freedom, human rights, and government reform. Right now the document is bouncing all around the internet, being chased by the government censors who aim to delete its tracks. You can read an English version of the document here. And it seems Zola has put assembled a page with different translations as well, including the original in Chinese.

The document’s content is not surprising. But the fact that so many people are brave enough to sign it and spread it around — well, that takes more than a little guts if you’re a Chinese citizen. One blogger’s story is so striking that I had to re-post it here:

“I was brushing teeth in the bathroom when I thought of my deleted post with the full text of the Charter. My eyes became wet suddenly and I burst into tears. What the fuck is this country! Others have adopted democracy for hundreds of years. They can breathe the air of freedom. They can speak and write. Their government officials have to seek permission from taxpayers before they use any tax money. Their farmers can rely on social security when they become aged and don’t have to live the rest of their lives by begging in the cities. Their babies won’t be aborted by family planning officials……We have nothing! Nothing! We can’t enjoy democracy and freedom. Fine. But why aren’t we allowed to speak out? Why do the posts have to be deleted and we go to jail when we speak out? Is there any justice in this world?”
. . .
“On the late night of December 14, 2008, I had a good cry and after that I made a decision with a calm mind – I was going to sign my name to Charter 08. Signature is an expression. I completely agree with what Charter 08 advocates. I hope the democratic system can be set up as soon as possible so that people can live freely. Yes, I want that kind of bright future. I don’t want a life like this now. In a democratic society, we’ll become outstanding columnists, reporters or lawyers. In the current society, I have to worry about being incriminated because of my words all the time. I don’t know what will happen to me by the end of the day. I don’t want to live like this, so I am going to sign my name to it.” Chinese Blogger Persian Xiaozhao, source: China Digital Times

In the original Chinese:

??????????????????????08??????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????“????”????????????????????????……????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

. . .

?2008?12?14??????????????????????????????08???????
????????????08??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? source