(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC protests the one-year prison sentence handed down to journalist Yang Xiaoqing on 15 June 2006, on extortion charges for his reporting on official corruption. International PEN considers Yang to be detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China became a signatory in […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC protests the one-year prison sentence handed down to journalist Yang Xiaoqing on 15 June 2006, on extortion charges for his reporting on official corruption. International PEN considers Yang to be detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China became a signatory in 1998, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
Yang, a reporter with the “Zhongguo Chanjing Xinwenbao” (China Industrial Economy News), was arrested by the Public Security Bureau of Longhui County, Hunan Province, on 22 January, after investigating and reporting on the alleged corruption of Longhui County officials. According to Yang’s wife Gong Jie, Yang received threats and intimidation by local officials prior to his arrest, and had been in hiding for several months.
Yang was accused of posting defamatory articles on the Internet after failing to extort up to 800,000 Yuan (approx: US$100,000) from Longhui County officials. His detention is thought to be linked to two articles written in May 2005, alleging corruption in the sale of a state-owned company by county officials. According to his lawyer, the authorities have failed to produce any evidence to support the charges against him.
Yang is being held at the Longhui County Detention Centre, Hunan Province, where his health is said to have deteriorated significantly since his detention. He is said to have been diagnosed with Hepatitis B, and there are also reports that he is being denied treatment for an undiagnosed growth.
