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UPDATE - CHINA
19 June 2007
Court of appeal upholds six-year sentence against writer Zhang Jianhong;
WiPC seriously concerned about his health
SOURCE: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International PEN, London
**Updates IFEX alerts of 21 March 2007, 18 October and 21 September 2006**
(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC protests a court of appeal decision to uphold the
six-year prison sentence handed down to prominent writer Zhang Jianhong
(a.k.a. Li Hong) on 21 May 2007. PEN is also alarmed about reports that he
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 Zhang in accordance with Article 19 of the United
Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which
China is a signatory. It asks that he receive all necessary medical
treatment pending his release.
According to PEN's information, the High People's Court of Zhejiang
Province upheld the six-year prison sentence against Zhang on 21 May and he
was immediately transferred to Changhu prison, Huzhou City. He is
reportedly suffering from muscle necrosis, a condition which is
deteriorating due to lack of adequate medical care in jail. On his doctor's
advice, he applied for medical parole on 31 May, but there has reportedly
been no response from the administrative authorities.
Zhang was convicted of "subversion" by a court in Ningbo, Zhejiang
Province, in eastern China on 19 March 2007 for "defaming the Chinese
government" and "inciting subversion" in articles posted online between May
and September 2006. He has been detained since his arrest on 6 September
2006. Aged 48, Zhang is known for his dissident activities and prolific
writings. He is also a member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC).
He was previously imprisoned from 1989 to 1991 for his pro-democracy
activities. In August 2005, he founded the literary website Aiqinhai (
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 ).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to authorities:
- protesting the six-year prison sentence handed down to prominent writer
Zhang Jianhong
- expressing concerns that Zhang Jianhong's applications for medical parole
are being ignored
- 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
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People's 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 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.
Please contact the PEN WiPC office in London if sending appeals after 17
July 2007.
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Cathy McCann, the WiPC, International PEN,
Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6ER, U.K., tel: +44 207
405 0338, fax: +44 207 405 0339, e-mail:
cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk or wipc@internationalpen.org.uk,
Internet: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk
The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of
WiPC. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
WiPC.
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