CHINA: Sentence against poet, professor and freelance journalist Zheng Yichun upheld on appeal
(Jan. 19, 2006)The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests the detention of poet, professor and freelance journalist Zheng Yichun, whose seven-year prison sentence was upheld on appeal on 22 December 2005. Zheng Yichun was convicted by the Yingkou Intermediate People's Court, Liaonin Province, northern China on 21 July 2005 and sentenced on 20 September 2005 to seven years in prison for "incitement to subversion of state power" for his critical writings, many of which were posted on-line on overseas web-sites.
Zheng Yichun is a diabetic and has reportedly been refused any medical treatment for his condition. He has also been reportedly beaten in prison by other prisoners. There are serious concerns for his health and well-being.
According to PEN's information, Zheng Yichun, aged 48, was arrested on 3 December 2004 and charged in connection with sixty-three articles he had written for foreign-based publications and websites. His family was reportedly threatened with reprisals if they contacted international press or human rights organisations about his arrest.
Reporters Sans Frontiers give the following background about Zheng Yichun:
"A member of the Korean minority, he has published eight collections of poetry and nearly 200 essays and political articles. Dozens of his articles have been published recently in certain newspapers, including Da Ji Yuan (Epoch Times) and websites such as Boxun and Min Zhu Lun Tan (Democracy Forum), all of them based abroad. Before his arrest, Zheng was also an English professor at the University of Liaoning."
Zheng Yichun is currently held at No 1 jail in his home-town of Panjin, in Liaoning Province, but is expected to be moved to another detention centre soon, making family visits difficult. He suffers from diabetes and according to his family he is not receiving any treatment in jail. He has also been reportedly beaten by other prisoners during his detention. There are serious concerns for his health, which is believed to be deteriorating.
International PEN protests the detention of poet, professor and dissident writer Zheng Yichun, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. PEN is seriously concerned about reports that he is denied medical treatment for diabetes in prison, and demands that he be given immediate medical attention. PEN seeks assurances that he is being treated humanely in detention.
Please send appeals to the Chinese authorities:
- Protesting the detention of poet, professor and dissident writer Zheng Yichun and calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
- Expressing serious concerns for his health and well-being, and seeking assurances that he is given all necessary medical care and is treated humanely in detention.
(boxun.com)
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