RAN
25/08
CHINA:
Dissident
writer
Zhou
Yuanzhi
detained.
The
Writers
in
Prison
Committee
of
International
PEN is
seriously
concerned
about
the
detention
of
dissident
writer
and
member
of the
Independent
Chinese
PEN
Centre
Zhou
Yuanzhi,
who was
arrested
on 3 May
2008 on
suspicion
of
＆inciting
subversion
of state
power＊.
It is
thought
that he
may be
detained
for his
critical
writings
published
online
on
various
social
issues.
International
PEN
fears
that
Zhou
Yuanzhi
may be
held in
violation
of
Article
19 of
the
United
Nations
International
Covenant
on Civil
and
Political
Rights,
to which
China is
a
signatory,
and if
so calls
for his
immediate
and
unconditional
release.
According
to PEN's
information,
Zhou
Yuanzhi
and his
wife
were
taken
away
from
their
home by
the
police
of the
National
Security
Bureau
of
Zhongxiang
City,
Hubei
Province
on 3 May
2008.
His wife
was
later
released
and
placed
under
house
arrest.
Zhou
remains
in
custody,
and is
held on
suspicion
of
"inciting
subversion,"
a charge
often
used to
silence
dissent
in
China.
Zhou
Yuanzhi,
aged 47,
is a
freelance
writer
who has
published
two
books in
Hong
Kong, as
well as
over 500
political
commentaries,
reportages,
essays
and
short
stories
under
several
pen
names in
overseas
Chinese
magazines
and on
web
sites.
He is
known
for his
critiques
on
social
issues
and
official
corruption.
Zhou
has been
previously
targeted
for his
writings.
In 1992,
after
contributing
an
article
to Voice
of
America
radio,
he was
dismissed
from his
post as
deputy
chief of
the
Zhongxiang
City
Taxation
Bureau
and
expelled
from the
Communist
Party of
China.
Please
send
appeals:
-
Expressing
serious
concerns
about
the
detention
of
dissident
writer
Zhou
Yuanzhi,
and
calling
for
his
immediate
and
unconditional
release
if
held
in
violation
of
Article
19
of
the
International
Covenant
on
Civil
and
Political
Rights,
to
which
China
became
a
signatory
in
1998.
WiPC
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.
Chief
Judge
Mr. WANG
Shengjun
President
of the
Supreme
People＊s
Court
No.27
Dongjiaominxiang
Dongcheng
District,
Beijing
100745
People＊s
Republic
of China
Procurator
General
Mr. CAO
Jianming
Supreme
People＊s
Procuratorate
Beiheyan
Street
147
100726
Beijing
People＊s
Republic
of China
People＊s
Republic
of 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 31
May
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
