Letters: Chinese voices

It is extremely disappointing to learn that the organisers of the London Book Fair and the British Council have apparently acquiesced to pressure from the Chinese authorities and failed to invite dissident authors and poets to the event at Earls Court next week (Report, 21 March). The London Book Fair should be using this opportunity to showcase voices from all perspectives in the Peoples' Republic of China, including the dissenting voices that might be critical of the state, such as jailed poet and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, and Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser. It is bad enough that writers, journalists, bloggers and academics are subject to heavy censorship in China, but we should not be allowing the authorities to replicate their restrictions on freedom of expression further afield.
Kate Allen Director, Amnesty International UK
Hori Takeaki Secretary, Pen International
Dr Kirsty Hughes Chief executive, Index on Censorship
Philippa Carrick Chief executive, Tibet Society
Kate Saunders International Campaign for Tibet
Pempa Lobsang Chairperson, Tibetan Community in Britain
Pema Yoko National director, Students for a Free Tibet
Andrew Johnston Advocacy director, Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Shao Jiang Chinese Unofficial Publication Network
Nicola Macbean Executive director, The Rights Practice
Tienchi Liao Independent Chinese Pen Centre