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Previous Action Alert - 6/21/07 - China
June 21, 2007
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CHINA: Court of Appeal upholds six-year sentence against writer Zhang Jianhong; serious health concerns.
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests a court of appeal decision to uphold the six-year prison sentence handed down to
prominent writer Zhang Jianhong (aka Li Hong) on 21 May 2007. PEN is also alarmed about reports that Zhang Jianhong is seriously ill, and that an
application for medical parole has not been considered. International PEN is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of writer Zhang
Jianhong in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory. It
urges that he receives all necessary medical treatment pending his release.
According to PEN¹s information, the High People’s Court of Zhejiang Province upheld the six-year prison sentence against prominent writer Zhang Jianghong
on 21 May 2007, and he was immediately transferred to Changhu prison, Huzhou City. Zhang Jianhong is reportedly suffering from muscle necrosis, a
condition which is deteriorating due to lack of adequate medical care in jail. On his doctor¹s advice, he applied for medical parole on 31 May 2007,
but there has reportedly been no response from the administrative authorities.
Zhang Jianhong was convicted of ³subversion² by a court in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, eastern China on 19 March 2007 for ³defaming the Chinese
government² and ³inciting subversion² in articles posted online between May and September 2006. Zhang Jianhong has been detained since his arrest on 6
September 2006. Zhang Jianhong, aged 48, is known for his dissident activities and prolific writings. He is also a member of Independent Chinese
PEN centre (ICPC). Zhang was previously imprisoned from 1989-1991 for his pro-democracy activities. In August 2005 he founded the literary website
Aiqinhai.org (http://www.aiqinhai.org/), of which he was editor-in-chief, and which was banned in March 2006. He is also a regular contributor to the
overseas Chinese sites Boxun (http://www.boxun.com
and The Epoch Times (http://www.dajiyuan.com)
Please send appeals:
- Protesting the six-year prison sentence handed down to prominent writer Zhang Jianhong;
- Expressing concerns that Zhang Jianhong¹s applications for medical parole are being ignored and calling on the authorities for his
immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China became
a signatory in 1998;
- Seeking immediate assurances that he is given full access to all necessary medical care in the meantime.
Please note that there are no fax numbers for the Chinese authorities. WiPC recommends that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country
asking them to forward it and welcoming any comments.
Government addresses:
His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People¹s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R.China.
The Minister of Justice
Ms. Wu Aiying
No.10 Nandajie , Chaoyangmen
Chaoyang District
Beijing 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.