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Previous Action Alerts 06/22/06
June 22, 2006
China Focus: More journalists detained and sentenced.
CHINA: Journalist Yang Xiaoqing sentenced to one year in prison for his critical writings; health concerns.
CHINA: Internet journalist charged with subversion; health concerns
Story Continued...
China continues to crack down on dissident journalists. This week our FTW Action Alerts concern the sentencing of one dissident writer and the detention of another.
Addresses for both appeal letters are at the bottom of the post.
Full Stories from International PEN:
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CHINA: Journalist Yang Xiaoqing sentenced to one year in prison for his critical writings; health concerns.
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests the one-year prison sentence handed down to journalist Yang Xiaoqing on 15 June 2006 on extortion charges for his reporting on official corruption. International PEN considers journalist Yang Xiaoqing to be detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China became a signatory in 1998, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
Yang Xiaoqing, a reporter with the Zhongguo Chanjing Xinwenbao (China Industrial Economy News), was arrested by the Public Security Bureau of Longhui County, Hunan Province, on 22 January 2006 after investigating and reporting the alleged corruption of Longhui County officials. According to Yang’s wife Gong Jie, Yang received threats and intimidation by local officials prior to his arrest, and had been in hiding for several months.
Yang was accused of posting defamatory articles on the Internet after failing to extort up to 800,000 Yuan (US$100,000) from Longhui County officials. His detention is thought to be linked to two articles written in May 2005 alleging corruption in the sale of a state-owned company by county officials. According to his lawyer, the authorities have failed to produce any evidence to support the charges against him.
Yang Xiaoqing is held at the Longhui County Detention Centre, Hunan Province, where his health is said to have deteriorated significantly since his detention. He is said to have been diagnosed with Hepatitis B, and there are also reports that he is denied treatment for an undiagnosed growth.
Please send appeals:
- protesting the detention of journalist Yang Xiaoqing, and calling 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;
- expressing serious concerns about his health, and urging that whilst detained his basic rights are respected and that he is granted full access to his family and all necessary medical care.
Click Here For Sample Letter of Appeal
Full Story:
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CHINA: Internet journalist charged with subversion; health concerns.
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of Internet writer Guo Qizhen, who has reportedly been held since 12 May 2006 on subversion charges for his critical writings and pro-democracy activities. Guo is said to be in poor health and held without access to adequate care. International PEN considers journalist Guo Qizhen to be detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China became a signatory in 1998, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
According to PEN’s information, cyber-dissident Guo Qizhen was arrested at his home on 12 May 2006 and charged with ‘inciting subversion of state power’ on 8 June 2006. His arrest appears to be linked to his participation in a rotating hunger strike which has been taking place by pro-democracy activists since 4 February 2006 to protest against human rights violations in China. The charges are believed to be based on his anti-government articles published online on overseas websites.
Guo is currently held incommunicado, and without access to his family, at Cangzhou detention centre No.2 in Hebei Province, central China. There are reports that he has a broken leg and is in a fragile psychological state, for reasons that remain unclear to PEN. The detention centre where he is held is said to lack the medical facilities required to give him adequate treatment.
Please send appeals:
- protesting the detention of Internet writer Guo Qizhen, and calling 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;
- expressing serious concerns about his health, and urging that whilst detained his basic rights are respected and that he is granted full access to his family and all necessary medical care.
Click Here for Sample Letter of Appeal
Appeals for both cases to:
His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R.China.
Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang
Supreme People’s Procuratorate
Beiheyan Street 147
100726 Beijing
P.R.China
(Please note that there are no fax numbers for the Chinese authorities. It is recommended that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country asking that they forward your appeal and welcoming any comments).
The Contact information for the Chinese Ambassador in the US is:
Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America
2300 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Washington DC 20008