"Huang Qi, … was last seen being forced into a car by three unidentified men in Chengdu on the evening of June 10. His detention comes amid an escalated effort by the Chinese government to establish tighter controls over reporting from earthquake-affected areas.

Huang, director and co-founder of the Tianwang Human Rights Center in Chengdu, had been imprisoned on subversion charges from 2003 to 2005 for setting up a web site that investigated corruption, advocated democracy, and called for the release of those imprisoned in the wake of the Tiananmen protests. PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee fears that Huang has been detained by plainclothes police and may be held incommunicado in connection with his criticism of the government's handling of the May 12th Sichuan earthquake.

Two associates working with Huang Qi at Tianwang, Internet writer Huang Xiaomin and webmaster Zhang Qi, had been detained on May 16 after declaring their intentions to join rescue activities in Sichuan. Huang Xiaomin was released after 15 days, and there are reports that he was extensively questioned by police about his relation to Huang Qi and their activities at Tianwang. Zhang Qi is still being held incommunicado.’

Please send appeals:

Expressing serious concern for the safety of detained internet writer Huang Qi following his critical reporting the government dealing with the consequences of the earthquake on the earthquake in Sichuan province on 12 May;

Seeking urgent information about Huang Qi’s well-being;

Expressing serious concern that he appears to have been detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which China is a signatory and that guarantees the right to freedom of expression and if so calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

International PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee 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 People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R. China.

Mr. Meng Jianzhu
Minister of the Public Security
East Chang'an Avenue 14
100741 Beijing
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.

**Please contact the PEN WiPC office in London if sending appeals after 16 July 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

Cathy McCann
Researcher, Asia/Middle EastInternational PEN Writers in Prison CommitteeBrownlow House50-51 High HolbornLondon WC1V 6ER.Tel.+44 (0)20 7405 0338Fax: +44 (0)20 7405 0339www.internationalpen.org.uk