Charter 08 Arrests

After the issuing of the Charter 08 (see http://charlesburton.blogspot.com/2008/12/english-translation-of-charter-08-now.html) signed initially by several hundred prominent Chinese intellectuals Liu Xiaobo was arrested on October 8.  Since then the Charter has been signed by thousands more.  But to my knowledge only Mr. Liu is being held. 

My interpretation is that if the Chinese authorities arrested more people for attaching their names to this document, this would embolden many more of their colleagues who agree with the content of the Charter but are afraid to sign for fear of political persecution.  It would be like a "Sorcerer's Apprentice" scenario: the more arrested, the longer the list of signatories.

Political opposition to the status quo of one Party rule in China appears to be coalescing through this process.