ROUNDUP Chinese dissidents arrive in Germany for book fair

Sep 11, 2009, 15:20 GMT

   Frankfurt - A Chinese dissident said Friday she would describe 'abuses of power' by Chinese officials when she addresses a symposium in the German city of Frankfurt over the weekend.

Journalist Dai Qing flew to the German financial hub to attend the forum despite organizers revoking her invitation owing to pressure from Beijing.

   'I've got nothing to loose,' the environmental activist told reporters shortly after her arrival from Beijing.

Asked if she anticipated reprisals by Chinese authorities on her return home, Dai Qing said virtually everything had been taken away from her, except for her citizenship.

Dai Qing was forced to buy a new ticket at the last minute after her previously booked one had been mysteriously cancelled despite several checks with the travel agency, she said before leaving China.

   'They tried so hard to keep me from going to Frankfurt,' the 68-year-old told the German Press Agency dpa via phone from the airport.

   Organizers of the world's largest book fair confirmed Thursday they had banned Dai Qing and another author, Bei Ling, from the symposium China and the World, being held on Saturday and Sunday.

Bei Ling flew to Germany at his own expense from Boston in the United States and met up with Dai Qing at the airport in Frankfurt.

Beijing objected to the pair being invited to the forum, being held in the run-up to the October 14-18 Frankfurt Book Fair, where China is guest of honour.

   The revocation of the dissidents' invitations triggered fierce criticism in Germany, where the organizers were accused of bowing to China's censorship.

Dai Qing was then invited by the international writers' organization PEN.