CHINA: Serious health concerns for four writers Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai, after prolonged periods of detention; reports of ill-treatment.

RAPID ACTION NETWORK
Update # 1 to RAN 29/03

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned by recent reports of deteriorating health and lack of sufficient medical treatment for detained writers Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai, who are all serving lengthy sentences on subversion charges for their critical writings. PEN calls for them to be given all necessary medical care as a matter of urgency, and is alarmed at reports that two of the four have been ill-treated in detention. International PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee considers all four to be detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory, and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

According to PEN’s information, the four prisoners are all suffering from acute medical problems, some of which do not appear to have been properly diagnosed, and for which there are concerned that they are not receiving appropriate medical attention. Jin Haike, who received abdominal surgery in November 2007, is reportedly in acute pain. Zhang Hong Hia and Xu Wei were reportedly subjected to ill-treatment in prison, leading Xu Wei to stage hunger strikes in protest, exacerbating concerns for his well-being.

Background

According to PEN’s information, Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai, reporter for Xiaofei Ribao (Consumer Daily), geologist and writer, writer and computer engineer, and freelance writer respectively, were arrested on 13 March 2001 and charged with ‘subversion’ as a result of their participation in the ‘Xin Qingnian Xuehui’ (New Youth Study Group), an informal gathering of individuals concerned with political and economic inequalities who used the internet to circulate articles. On 28 September 2001, the Beijing Intermediate Court initiated legal proceedings against the four focusing on two essays circulated on the internet entitled ‘Be a new citizen, reform China’ and ‘What’s to be done’, which allegedly demonstrated the groups’ intention to "overthrow the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership and the socialist system and subvert the regime of the people’s democratic dictatorship". No verdict was announced at the time, and proceedings against the four writers re-commenced on 21 April 2003. Lawyers for the four men argue that the failure to issue a verdict in the case violates China’s Criminal Procedure Law, which stipulates that a court must pronounce judgement within six weeks of accepting a case. On 28 May 2003 Xu Wei and Jin Haike were sentenced to ten years in prison, and Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai to eight years, on charges of subversion.

Please send appeals:

-- seeking assurances that all four are treated humanely in detention, and granted access to necessary medical care and family visits.
-- protesting the lengthy prison sentences handed down to writers Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai, solely for the peaceful expression of their opinions, and calling for their immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with the Chinese Criminal Procedure Law and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory.

Government addresses:

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. WiPC recommends that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country asking them to forward it and welcoming any comments.

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for China in your country if possible.

**Please contact the PEN WiPC office in London if sending appeals after 31 March 2008**

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