ABA Urges State Department to Investigate Abduction of Chinese Bookseller

On Monday, January 22, the American Booksellers Association sent a letter to the State Department urging it to investigate the abduction and disappearance of Gui Minhai, a Chinese-born Swedish national and bookseller associated with Mighty Current publishing house.

“The continued harassment and detention of Mr. Gui poses a serious threat to free expression,” the letter said. “Mighty Current is known for producing and selling books that are critical of the Chinese government, which are regularly banned in mainland China but available in Hong Kong, and was accused in a Communist Party publication of ‘stirring up troubles on the mainland.’ This case has sent the terrifying message to writers, publishers, and booksellers in Hong Kong that tackling politically sensitive topics can imperil an individual’s freedom and safety.”

On Saturday, January 20, Gui was traveling by train to Beijing with two Swedish diplomats when plainclothes police officers boarded the train and took Gui away, according to the New York Times. It was the second time Chinese authorities had spirited the bookseller away. In 2015, Gui was one of five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared and then resurfaced in China in police custody, the Times article noted. Gui was held in custody for two years and was accused by Chinese state news media outlets of publishing books that demeaned Communist Party leaders.

Gui was eventually released last October and was on his way to Beijing for medical treatment after showing symptoms of ALS. He was abducted after being suspected of sharing secret information with Swedish diplomats and for meeting the diplomats illegally, the Times article noted.

“Books convey culture and culture empowers citizens. Freedom of expression is a fundamental democratic principle which must be respected in all circumstances. It is the backbone of the publishing and bookselling industries,” ABA’s letter stated. See the full letter below.

ABA Letter to State Department

January 22, 2018

The Honorable Rex Tillerson
Secretary of State
U.S. State Department
Harry S. Truman Building
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We, the undersigned free expression advocacy groups, are writing to express our deep concern over the forced disappearance of Gui Minhai, a Chinese-born Swedish national associated with Mighty Current publishing house. On Saturday, January 20, Mr. Minhai was traveling by train to Beijing with two Swedish diplomats, when plainclothes police officers boarded at a station and led Mr. Gui away. We urge the State Department to do everything in its power to investigate the latest abduction by the Chinese government of Gui Minhai and demand the release of Mr. Gui.

As you know, Mr. Gui has become a symbol of the Chinese government’s determination to smother criticism from abroad when he was one of five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared in 2015, and then resurfaced in China in police custody. Mr. Gui was accused by Chinese state news media of publishing books that slurred Communist Party leaders.

Mr. Gui was formally released from detention last October but was forced to remain in China and report regularly to the police. He had been living in an apartment in Ningbo, an eastern coastal city. On his way to the Chinese capital for a medical examination at the Swedish Embassy (after showing signs of ALS), Mr. Gui was abducted by 10 plainclothes police officers and his whereabouts are, as of the present, unknown.

The continued harassment and detention of Mr. Gui pose a serious threat to free expression. Mighty Current is known for producing and selling books that are critical of the Chinese government, which are regularly banned in mainland China but available in Hong Kong, and was accused in a Communist Party publication of “stirring up troubles on the mainland.” This case has sent the terrifying message to writers, publishers, and booksellers in Hong Kong that tackling politically sensitive topics can imperil an individual’s freedom and safety.

Books convey culture and culture empowers citizens. Freedom of expression is a fundamental democratic principle which must be respected in all circumstances. It is the backbone of the publishing and bookselling industries.

We respectfully urge the State Department to insist that mainland authorities immediately release Mr. Gui.

Sincerely,

David Grogan, Director, ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy
American Booksellers Association