 On 27 December 2007 , AIDS and pro @-@ democracy activist Hu Jia was detained as part of a crackdown on dissents during the run @-@ up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics . A well known rights advocate who had advocated on behalf of AIDS victims , peasants , victims of land requisitions , Hu had also been critical of the lack of human rights progress that had been made ahead of the Olympic games . Hu pleaded not guilty at his trial in March 2008 . On 3 April 2008 , he was sentenced to 3 @.@ 5 years in prison for " inciting subversion of state power . " He had previously been under house arrest , and has reportedly been beaten by police . 
