Naturally Interesting

Hu Jia, campaigner for the environment, religious freedom and for the rights of people with HIV and Aids has received a 3.5 year jail sentence. He was convicted of “inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system.”

The US was “dismayed” by the verdict, a spokeswoman for the US embassy in Beijing said, while the European Union called for Mr Hu’s immediate release.

Dismayed enough to boycott the Olympics? No, not that dismayed.

“As for critics’ view that China is trying to increase its efforts to arrest dissidents ahead the Olympic Games, I think all these accusations are unfounded”

Premier Wen Jiabao, 18 March 2008