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January 19, 2006
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CHINA: Sentence against poet, professor and freelance journalist Zheng Yichun upheld on appeal. (SAMPLE LETTER OF APPEAL BELOW)
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests the detention of poet, professor and freelance journalist Zheng Yichun, whose seven-year prison sentence was upheld on appeal on 22 December 2005. Zheng Yichun was convicted by the Yingkou Intermediate People’s Court, Liaonin Province, northern China on 21 July 2005 and sentenced on 20 September 2005 to seven years in prison for ‘incitement to subversion of state power’ for his critical writings, many of which were posted on-line on overseas web-sites. Zheng Yichun is a diabetic and has reportedly been refused any medical treatment for his condition. He has also been reportedly beaten in prison by other prisoners. There are serious concerns for his health and well-being.
According to PEN’s information, Zheng Yichun, aged 48, was arrested on 3 December 2004 and charged in connection with sixty-three articles he had written for foreign-based publications and websites. His family were reportedly threatened with reprisals if they contacted international press or human rights organisations about his arrest.
Reporters Sans Frontiers give the following background about Zheng Yichun:
‘A member of the Korean minority, he has published eight collections of
poetry and nearly 200 essays and political articles. Dozens of his articles
have been published recently in certain newspapers, including Da Ji Yuan
(Epoch Times) and websites such as Boxun and Min Zhu Lun Tan (Democracy
Forum), all of them based abroad.
Before his arrest, Zheng was also an English professor at the University of Liaoning.
Zheng Yichun is currently held at No 1 jail in his home-town of Panjin, in Liaoning Province, but is expected to be moved to another detention centre soon, making family visits difficult. He suffers from diabetes and according to his family he is not receiving any treatment in jail. He has also been reportedly beaten by other prisoners during his detention. There are serious concerns for his health, which is believed to be deteriorating.
International PEN protests the detention of poet, professor and dissident writer Zheng Yichun, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. PEN is seriously concerned about reports that he is denied medical treatment for diabetes in prison, and demands that he be given immediate medical attention. PEN seeks assurances that he is being treated humanely in detention.
Please send appeals to the Chinese authorities:
- Protesting the detention of poet, professor and dissident writer Zheng Yichun and calling for his immediate and unconditional release in
accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights;
- Expressing serious concerns for his health and well-being, and
seeking assurances that he is given all necessary medical care and is
treated humanely in detention.
Government addresses:
His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R.China.
Her Excellency Ms. Wu Aiying
Minister of Justice
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Chaoyang-qu
Beijing-shi 100020
P.R.China.
Please note that fax numbers are no longer available for the Chinese
authorities, so you may wish to ask the diplomatic representative for China
in your country to forward your appeals.
Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your
country if possible.
Centres are encouraged to consider Zheng Yichun for honorary membership.
For further information, please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN
WiPC, 9/10 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AT, U.K. Tel:
+44 (0)207 253 3226, fax: +44 (0)207 253 5711, email: cmccann@wipcpen.org
SAMPLE LETTER OF APPEAL
(Please forward a copy of your letters to the PEN USA offices)
[TODAY’S DATE]
[ADDRESS]
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you on behalf of PEN USA, part of an international organization of writers with an 85-year history of defending freedom of expression through the written word.
PEN USA strongly protests the sentence of Zheng Yichun, poet, professor and freelance journalist, to seven years of imprisonment for “incitement to subversion of state power” on September 20, 2005 by the Yingkou Intermediate People’s Court and recently upheld on appeal. We are also very concerned about reports that Zheng has been continually denied any treatment for his diabetes during his incarceration – when untreated, diabetes can lead to coma or even death.
Zheng Yichun was arrested on December 3, 2004 and charged in connection with sixty-three articles he had written for foreign-based publications and websites. He is being held at No 1 jail in Panjin, Liaoning Province. His family has reportedly been threatened with reprisals if they contact international press or human rights organizations about his situation.
We implore the Chinese authorities to respect Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression through any media, and regardless of political borders. Therefore, PEN USA calls for Zheng Yichun’s immediate and unconditional release. Until that time, we respectfully urge that he be given all necessary treatment for his serious medical condition and seek assurances that he is being treated humanely.
Sincerely,
Comments:
I assume that jailing writers comes mainly out of fear. Be unafraid! Let all speak their truth. All good comes from this. Zheng Yichun will, in the long run, be seen as a patriot of whom all will be proud.