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Jampel Gyatso Monk from Drakar Trezong monastery…

6 January 2009 · Scottish Review

Jampel Gyatso
Monk from Drakar Trezong monastery in Qinghai Province, where he was on the editorial team of the monastery’s journal, The Charm of the Sun and Moon. Arrested January 2005 and sentenced to three years re-education through labour.

Hada
Owner of the Mongolian Academic Bookstore and founder and editor-in-chief of underground journal, Voice of Southern Mongolia, arrested December 1995 and sentenced to 15 years in prison and four years’ deprivation of political rights for ‘inciting separatism and espionage’. Suffering from stomach ulcers and coronary heart disease.

He Depu
Dissident activist and writer arrested November 2002 and subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison and two years’ deprivation of political rights for ‘inciting subversion.’ His trial lasted two hours before he was convicted on charges stemming from his collaboration with the banned China Democracy Party (CDP) and internet essays. Has reportedly suffered numerous abuses in prison, including beatings that left permanent injuries.

Hu Jia
Freelance reporter and blogger, civil rights, environmental and AIDS activist, arrested December 2007 on suspicion of ‘inciting subversion of state power.’ Sentenced to three and a half years in prison and one year’s deprivation of political rights. His health is reportedly deteriorating due to prison conditions.

Hu Shigen
University lecturer, political activist and dissident writer, arrested September 1992 and charged with ‘counter-revolutionary crimes’ for planning June 4 memorial activities in many of China’s major cities. Sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years’ deprivation of political rights. His health is deteriorating but he is reportedly being denied medical care for a number of conditions.

Huang Jinqiu
Essayist and journalist serving a 12-year prison sentence for ‘organising, planning and carrying out subversive activities’ and for writing ‘reactionary’ articles on the internet. A victim of routine ill treatment. Sources suggest the abuse to be so severe that Huang is at risk of a mental breakdown. In addition, he has been denied books and held with criminals who have been encouraged by prison authorities to mistreat him.

Huang Qi
Cyber-dissident, writer, director and co-founder of the Tianwang Human Rights Center, detained June 2008. Last seen being forced into a car by three unidentified men, and later confirmed to be held by the police on suspicion of ‘illegally holding state secrets.’ His detention may stem from his criticism of the government’s handling of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake.

Korash Huseyin
Editor of the Uighur-language Kashgar Literary Journal, arrested for publishing Nurmuhemmet Yasin’s short story ‘Wild Pigeon’ in late 2004. Chinese authorities consider the story to be a criticism of their government’s presence in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Sentenced to three years in prison.

Jin Haike
Geologist and writer, arrested March 2001 after participating 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 relevant articles. Sentenced May 2003 to 10 years in prison on charges of subversion. Suffering from multiple medical conditions whose causes are still unclear.

Kong Youping
Internet writer and factory worker, arrested December 2003 after posting five articles and seven poems on an overseas website that alleged corruption. Kong was sentenced September 2004 to 15 years in prison for ‘subverting state power’, a sentence reduced to 10 years on appeal. Reportedly suffering from high blood pressure and deteriorating eyesight.

Dolma Kyab
Writer and teacher in his native Tibet. Arrested on charges of ‘endangering state security’ and in September 2005 sentenced to 10 years in prison. Contracted tuberculosis while detained.

Li Zhi
Internet writer and financial officer in the Dazhou municipal government in Sichuan Province, arrested August 2003 after posting essays on an overseas website accusing Sichuan officials of corruption. Sentenced to eight years in prison and four years’ deprivation of political rights on charges of ‘subverting state power’.

Lu Gengsong
Writer and human rights activist, arrested August 2007 after his articles critical of the authorities were published online. Charged with ‘inciting subversion of state power’ and sentenced to four years in prison and one year’s deprivation of political rights.

Lu Zengqi
Internet writer, sentenced February 2004 to 10 years in prison for writing an online publication which ‘tarnished the image of the government by broadcasting fabricated stories of persecution’.

Abdulghani Memetemin
Writer, teacher and translator arrested July 2002 after providing information to the East Turkestan Information Centre (ETIC), a Uighur rights and pro-independence group run by exiled Uighurs in Germany. Convicted June 2003 of ‘illegally providing state secrets to overseas organisations’ and sentenced to nine years in prison. Reportedly denied legal representation at his trial and has been tortured in prison.

Ning Xianhua
Internet writer and factory worker, arrested December 2003 after posting online essays supporting the establishment of trade unions and the China Democracy Party (CDP). Sentenced to 12 years in prison for ‘subverting state power’, reduced to eight years on appeal.

Qi Chonghuai
Journalist detained June 2007 following the publication on the Xinhuanet website of an article alleging official corruption in the Tengzhou Communist Party. Charged with ‘blackmail’ August 2007, convicted of ‘extortion and blackmail’, and sentenced to four years in prison. Has endured abuse.

Shi Tao
Journalist and poet active in drawing attention to China’s intense effort to control information on the internet. Found guilty of ‘illegally divulging state secrets abroad’, and in 2005 sentenced to 10 years in prison and two years’ deprivation of political rights. In April 2006 his family said that his mental state had degenerated and because of the dampness and overcrowding in his cell, he suffers from skin problems in addition to an ulcer and a heart ailment.

Sun Lin
Reporter for the overseas Chinese website Boxun News, arrested May 2007 after writing articles on sensitive subjects including crime and police brutality. Serving a four-year prison sentence for ‘gathering crowds to cause social unrest’ and ‘illegal possession of firearms.’ Before his arrest, he had documented several instances of police harassment.

Tao Haidong
Internet writer and editor, arrested July 2002 while in the process of posting articles on the internet. Found guilty of ‘inciting subversion of state power’ and sentenced to seven years in prison and three years’ deprivation of political rights.

Wang Xiaoning
Internet writer and dissident, arrested September 2002 and charged with subversion for articles published online between 2000 and 2002. Sentenced to 10 years in prison and two years’ deprivation of political rights after Yahoo! supplied his user information to Chinese authorities. Has reportedly been tortured.

Wu Yilong
Internet writer and China Democracy Party (CDP) activist, arrested June 1999 for circulating pro-democracy articles on the internet and for his work with the magazine Zai Yedang (Opposition Party). Sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of subversion.

Xu Wei
Reporter for Xiaofei Ribao (Consumer Daily), arrested March 2001 after participating 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 relevant articles. Sentenced May 2003 to 10 years in prison on charges of subversion. Has suffered ill-treatment in prison, and has gone on hunger strike several times.

Yan Zhengxue
Dissident writer, painter and member of Independent Chinese PEN Center, arrested October 2006 for his critical writings published on overseas websites. Sentenced to three years in prison and one year’s deprivation of political rights for ‘inciting subversion of state power’.

Yang Maodong (pen name: Guo Feixiong)
Dissident writer, independent publisher and civil rights activist, arrested September 2006 and sentenced to five years in prison for ‘illegal business activity’. Has endured intense torture at the hands of prison authorities, including beatings, sleep deprivation, stress positions, and suspension by his arms and legs while attacked with electric prods.

Yang Zili
Writer and computer engineer, arrested March 2001 after participating 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 relevant articles. Sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of subversion. Currently suffering from numerous ailments but has yet to receive any medical treatment.

Nurmuhemmet Yasin
Freelance Uighur writer known for his short stories, essays, and three volumes of poetry. Chinese authorities consider his story, ‘Wild Pigeon’, to be a criticism of their government’s presence in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. After a closed trial February 2005 at which he was denied a lawyer, Yasin was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Yuan Qiuyan
Falun Gong member and internet publisher, sentenced February 2004 to 10 years in prison for publishing an online publication which ‘tarnished the image of the government by broadcasting fabricated stories of persecution suffered by cult members’. The newsletter alleged ill-treatment in prison of a fellow Falun Gong member.

Zeng Hongling
Writer detained June 2008 on suspicion of ‘illegally providing information overseas’ for articles published on an overseas Chinese website. Her articles, part of a series entitled ‘The Accounts of My Personal Experiences During the Earthquake’, were published along with her own photographs under a pen name, Shanshan.

Zhang Honghai
Freelance writer, arrested March 2001 after participating 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 relevant articles. Sentenced 2003 to eight years in prison on charges of subversion. Reportedly suffering from several medical conditions and has been ill-treated in prison.

Zhang Jianhong (pen name: Li Hong)
Freelance writer, playwright, poet and member of Independent Chinese PEN Center, arrested September 2006 and charged with ‘incitement to subversion of state power’ for his critical articles published on overseas websites. Sentenced to six years in prison March 2007. Reportedly suffering from muscle necrosis, a condition that has led to partial paralysis and continues to worsen despite his transfer to the prison hospital.

Zhang Lin
Dissident writer, pro-democracy advocate and member of Independent Chinese PEN Center, arrested January 2005 for a number of ‘subversive’ articles he had written and subsequently posted on the internet. Convicted of ‘incitement to subversion’ and sentenced to five years in prison and four years’ deprivation of political rights. Said to be very weak and suffering from several medical conditions.

Zheng Yichun
Poet, professor and freelance journalist, arrested December 2004 in connection with 63 articles he had written for foreign-based publications and websites. Convicted of ‘incitement to subversion of state power’ and sentenced to seven years in prison and three years’ deprivation of political rights. Suffering from diabetes and cerebral thrombosis.

Zhu Yufu
Internet writer, founder and editor of the China Democracy Party’s magazine, arrested April 2007 and sentenced to two years in prison after pushing a policeman during his arrest. Later sentenced to an additional two years and four months. Had previously served seven years for his dissident activity.

This list of imprisoned writers was compiled by PEN, the international writers’ movement

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