President
Management Committee
Writers Advisory Panel
Bonny Cassidy
Vice Presidents:
Michael Fraser
Sandy Symons
Treasurer: Peter Eichhorn
Debra Adelaide
Simeon Beckett
Carol Dettmann
Gail Jones
Nicola McGarrity
Christopher Michaelsen
Jane Owen
Julie Rose
Jennifer Wong
Geraldine Brooks
J.M. Coetzee
Tim Flannery
Helen Garner
Kate Grenville
Tom Keneally AO
Frank Moorhouse AM
David Malouf AO
John Tranter
David Williamson AO
Alexis Wright
freedom to write…
freedom to read
International PEN Sydney Centre Inc.
ABN: 51 796 241 535
14A Lonsdale Close, Lake Haven NSW 2263
t: 1300 364 997 f: 02-4392 9410
Media release
5 January 2010
EMPTY CHAIR SIGNIFIES PLIGHT OF GAOLED WRITER
An empty chair has been installed in the University of Technology, Sydney, to raise awareness
of the harsh treatment of internationally renowned writer and academic Liu Xiaobo by Chinese
authorities.
Sydney PEN is calling on the Australian government to condemn the 11 year imprisonment of
Liu on charges of "subverting state power."
Liu, a Chinese citizen, was detained late in 2008 after signing and co-writing Charter 08, a
petition calling for political reforms including an end to the Communist Party's single-party rule.
He co-wrote the petition. His two day trial lasted three hours on December 23 2009 and the
verdict was delivered on Christmas Day while Western media and audiences were distracted.
Sydney PEN, an association of writers devoted to freedom of expression, has joined its
international affiliates to publically protest the charges against Liu.
Sydney PEN president, Bonny Cassidy said the Australian government should follow the United
Nations and the American government in calling for Liu’s immediate release.
“We all have a responsibility to protest against the charges and sentence,” she said.
“The police reportedly prevented journalists from covering the trial and a number of activists
were blocked from going to court and Liu’s wife was restricted at home.
“Sydney PEN will use its influence on behalf of writers anywhere who are silenced by
imprisonment, persecution or exile.
“The empty chair installed in the library of UTS signifies Liu's absence from literature and
society.”
In March Sydney PEN will be installing another empty chair in the UTS Tower on Broadway to
highlight other cases of imprisoned writers in the Asia and Pacific region.
Dr Cassidy urges the Australian Ambassador to China, Dr Geoff Raby and the Australian
government to join the international community in speaking out against Liu's sentence.
For further information:
Dr Bonny Cassidy, 0417 252 004
bonny.cassidy@gmail.com
Or Judy Goldman, Mediaways, 0402 277226
NEWS 
