As family members and friends of Kurt de Raedemaeker, we have been very grateful for the support he has received from the Belgian authorities, i.e. Prime Ministers van Rompuy and Leterme, Minister of Foreign Affairs de Gucht and the Belgian Embassy in Beijing who have repeatedly intervened on his behalf. The Belgian press has also highlighted his ordeal in various articles and programs; we thank Het Nieuwsblad, De Morgen, La Dernière Heure, RTL TV, La Libre Belgique and Le Soir for their contributions.
Kurt is now in very poor health and has been detained in China for five years and has been condemned to a life sentence and expulsion. We strongly feel that it is time now to review his situation and implement the part of the sentence that provides for his expulsion. He would then be able undergo a -highly urgent- major heart operation in Belgium.
Kurt is definitely not an professional smuggler, and certainly no criminal. His past record shows his avid interest in Chinese culture and society. He has made major contributions to the spreading of knowledge about Chinese culture in Europe.
Support from his friends and sympathizers is most welcome. It will comfort him in his, presently very difficult, situation.
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