Human Rights in China condemns the sentencing of land rights defender and Olympics critic Yang Chunlin (杨春林) to five years’ imprisonment on March 24, 2008. The same day, the Olympic torch was lit in Greece, and IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge stated that "the Games have advanced the agenda of human rights" in China. Yang, who was convicted on charges of inciting subversion of state power, had organized an open letter campaign with more than 10,000 signatures, entitled "We want human rights, not the Olympics."

Prosecutors reportedly argued that Yang Chunlin’s petition stained China's international image, but it’s the ongoing crackdowns on critical voices by the Chinese authorities that are damaging China’s credibility and legitimacy at home and abroad. — Sharon Hom, Executive Director of HRIC

"Prosecutors reportedly argued that Yang Chunlin’s petition stained China's international image, but it’s the ongoing crackdowns on critical voices by the Chinese authorities that are damaging China’s credibility and legitimacy at home and abroad," said Human Rights in China Executive Director Sharon Hom. "The IOC’s claims of human rights progress can not be a cover for refusing to address the Olympics-related human rights concerns raised by Yang Chunlin and others." Human Rights in China urges the international community to send a strong message to the Chinese government: respect freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Chinese constitution as well as in international law.

In June 2007, Heilongjiang-based Yang Chunlin and human rights defenders Yu Changwu (于长武) and Wang Guilin (王桂林) launched the "We want human rights" open letter. Yang was detained on July 6, 2007, formally arrested in August 2007, and tried on February 19, 2008. He has allegedly been tortured while in detention. Yu and Wang were sentenced to Reeducation-Through-Labor in January 2008. Prior to his detention, Yang had been supporting a legal action brought by more than 40,000 farmers affected by land confiscation before his detention. In 2006, Yang was also detained four times for his participation in a hunger strike organized by Beijing rights defense lawyer Gao Zhisheng (高智晟).