(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC has protested the heavy sentence handed down on 27 September 2004 by the Changzhou Intermediate People’s Court to Internet essayist, writer and journalist Huang Jinqiu (aka Qing Shuijun). Huang was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of “subversion of state power” for a large number of essays published on the […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC has protested the heavy sentence handed down on 27 September 2004 by the Changzhou Intermediate People’s Court to Internet essayist, writer and journalist Huang Jinqiu (aka Qing Shuijun). Huang was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of “subversion of state power” for a large number of essays published on the Internet.
The journalist has been detained since 13 September 2003, but his arrest was not reported until mid-December 2003 and even then remained little publicised outside the Chinese-language media. His detention was not officially acknowledged by the Chinese authorities until January 2004. International PEN considers Huang to be detained solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions and therefore in contravention of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organisation is calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
Huang was born in Shandong Province in 1974 and trained at the Lu Xun Literature Institute, a leading writing school. His writings have been well-recognised from an early age and at the age of twenty he published his first book. He has worked as a journalist and editor of several newspapers and magazines since the age of eighteen, including the Guanzhou daily “Yangcheng Wanbao”. In 2000 he received a scholarship to study journalism at the Central Academy of Art in Malaysia and became well-known in the overseas Chinese Internet community for his essays published on the Chinese-language news website http://www.Boxun.com under the pen-name Qing Shuijun (“Mr. Clear Water”). These essays have been collected in two publications, one that is non-political and published under his real name and one collection of political commentaries published for security reasons under his pen-name, Qing Shuijun.
In early 2001, his articles began to attract the attention of the Chinese authorities, who reportedly visited his parents and warned them of their concerns about him. He attracted further attention in January 2003 by announcing on Boxun.com his intention to found a political party, the China Patriot Democracy Party (CPDP). Although his announcement is said to have attracted considerable interest, it appears that the CPDP was never organised in practice. In August 2003, he returned to China. According to articles he continued to post on Boxun.com throughout his journey, the secret police began following him on 15 August, first in Yunan Province, then in Sichuan and Shanghai. In early September, Huang visited his parents in Shandong Province. His last article was published on 10 September, entitled “Me and My Public Security Friends”. It was not until January 2004 that his family was officially notified by the authorities of his arrest on 13 September 2003 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province.
Huang’s trial on subversion charges began on 22 June 2004 at the Changzhou Intermediate People’s Court. The court was reportedly unable to reach a verdict initially because of a lack of evidence. However, after the case was referred back to the prosecution, further evidence was submitted and he was convicted on 27 September of organising, planning and carrying out subversive activities by publishing a large number of “reactionary” articles on the Internet in his capacity as member of the CPDP’s preparatory committee. He was given a twelve-year prison sentence and is detained at Changzhou Detention Centre in Jiangsu Province. He is appealing the sentence.
