When I read about how Liu Di was arrested, I figured she would be released within weeks.
Yes, it's great that Liu Di is most likely going to get out of prison. But the Chinese people are not any more free now to express their opinions publically than they were before.

This is merely a continuation of a pattern that's existed for quite a while. Before arresting cyber-dissidents, China was frequently arresting Chinese-born US scholars who wrote negative things about them in Western academic journals. After a little diplomatic pressure, they'd usually get released relatively soon. (And then someone else gets arrested and the whole thing starts over again.)

I almost think they do it on purpose, so that way international organizations can feel satisfied with themselves (hey, we freed someone!), the CCP gets diplomatic brownie points with the West (well, they did just release somebody. I guess we should continue to say that we're opposed to Taiwanese independence), while it scares the populace enough into keeping their mouths shut in public spaces. For the people the government considers real threats (i.e. people trying to organize large demonstrations or alternate political parties, not college students posting essays on the Internet), no amount of bitching from Amnesty International is going to help: they're going to the labor re-education camps for a good 10-15 years.

That's the danger with dancing in the streets over Liu Di's inevitable release. And I agree that it was inevitable. Her release immediately takes the spotlight off of the other 35 or so Internet criminals. So this is a time to be more vocal than ever. China may be changing, but terror is still the mechanism the Party uses to ensure its survival, just like every other totalitarian state.

Technology - Internet Report

China Releases Cyber Dissident - Group

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has released a young cyber dissident known as the "stainless steel mouse" after detaining her for more than a year for criticizing the government, a Hong Kong rights group said Sunday.

Liu Di, 23, a former psychology major at Beijing Normal University who wrote under the computer name "Stainless Steel Mouse," was freed from Beijing's Qincheng prison Friday, the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said.

Two other "cyber dissidents," Wu Yiran, 34, and Li Yibin, 29, also were freed from a jail for political detainees on Friday, it said in a statement.

The release came just over a week ahead of a visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to the United States. China frequently times releases of dissidents to coincide with important trips abroad or visits by world leaders.

Liu was bailed out Friday afternoon, the center said, saying the move amounted to freeing her because political detainees are rarely, if ever, released on bail.

Family members said earlier this month they expected the release after four officials from the Beijing Public Security Bureau visited her home to convey the news.

Liu became a high-profile symbol for democracy and free speech in China after her detention in November 2002, spawning online petitions with thousands of signatories calling for her freedom.

She wrote political satire about the ruling Communist Party and posted messages in Internet chatrooms calling for the release of online dissidents. Never formally charged, she was held at Qincheng Prison for political detainees.

"Liu Di's main wish is to go back to Beijing Normal and resume her studies," the center said.

The center said in early November that prosecutors had rejected police recommendations to indict Liu on broad charges of subversion due to lack of evidence.

Police also detained at least two people for organizing online petitions for Liu's release. Du Daobin, a civil servant, was detained in October, while Luo Changfu, a 39-year-old laid-off worker, was sentenced to three years in prison.

China has been cracking down on Internet content -- from politics to pornography -- as the government struggles to gain control over the new and popular medium.

It has created a special Internet police force, blocked some foreign news sites and shut down domestic sites posting politically incorrect literature.

Liu Di's release from prison last fall was attributed largely to both international pressure but also the impact of bloggers. Has anyone recently communiated with her and do you think she is back at an Internet cafe blogging?

I don't know anyone who personally communicated with her, but she has been active, expecially with the petition to free Du Daobin.