June  19, 2007

CHINA: Court of Appeal upholds six-year sentence against writer 
Zhang Jianhong; serious health concerns.

RAPID ACTION NETWORK
19 June 2007
Update #3 to RAN 35/06

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 
15 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 PEN’s information, the High People's Court of 
Zhejiang Province upheld the six-year prison sentence against 
prominent writer Zhang Jianghong on 15 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 doctor’s 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 “subversion” by a court in 
Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, eastern China on 19 March 2007 for 
“defaming the Chinese government” and “inciting subversion” 
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 Jianhong’s 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.

Government addresses:

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 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.

PEN Centres may consider electing Zhang Jianghong as an honorary 
member.

**Please contact the PEN WiPC office in London if sending appeals 
after 17 July 2007**

For further information please contact Cathy McCann at 
International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 
50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, 
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: 
cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk 

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