Derechos: Urgent Actions

13 June 2007

Imprisoned dissident writer Yang Maodong allegedly tortured, confession to
be used in court

SOURCE: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International PEN, London

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is
alarmed by claims by dissident writer Yang Maodong that he was tortured in
detention, and that a confession extracted through torture is to be used as
evidence in court.

According to PEN's information, Yang Maodong, also known as Guo Feixiong, a
well-known dissident writer, independent publisher and civil rights
activist, who has been in detention since 14 September 2006, was reportedly
transferred to the Shenyang detention centre between 20 January and 27
March 2007, during which time, he alleges, he was severely treated and
repeatedly tortured. The police interrogation reportedly focused on his
involvement in and reporting of an anti-corruption campaign by villagers in
Taishi Village, Guangdong Province. This incident is not related to the
charges under which Yang Maodong is currently being held.

Yang Maodong was arrested on 14 September 2006 on charges of "suspected
illegal business dealings", for which he is to stand trial on 15 June.
According to his wife, police officers searched their home in Guangzhou
City, Guangdong Province, Southern China, and took away Yang's computers,
cell phone, books, manuscripts and other documents. The following day Yang
was reportedly charged with illegal business practices for allegedly
publishing and selling 20,000 books using false ISBNs (international
standard book numbers). His wife claims that the charges are totally
unfounded.

Yang Maodong, aged 40, is known for his critical writings and civil rights
activism. He was previously detained on 12 September 2005 and held without
charge until December 2005 for his involvement in and reporting of an
anti-corruption campaign by villagers in Taishi Village, Guangdong
Province. PEN campaigned for his release (see:
http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=393&return=33 ).

Yang Maodong has since been subject to repeated harassment by the
authorities, culminating in his arrest on 14 September 2006. Yang Maodong
is a writer and independent publisher, and his writings include two novels
and one collection of short stories. He has also published many essays,
poems and articles.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- expressing outrage at reports that a confession by Yang Maodong extracted
through torture is to be used in court as evidence
- condemning the use of torture and degrading treatment against prisoners,
in violation of the United Nations Convention against Torture
- seeking assurances from the authorities that Yang Maodong is humanely
treated while in detention
- calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to
which China is a signatory

APPEALS TO:

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 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, and to the source, if possible.

Please contact WIPC if sending appeals after 7 July 2007.

For further information, contact Cathy McCann at 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 , 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.

(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