Guo Qizhen

UPDATE CHINA: Fears of ill treatment of Internet journalist Guo Qizhen

July 2007

Alarmed by reports that he has been ill treated in prison, Sydney PEN renews its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Chinese Internet journalist Guo Qizhen. PEN is also concerned that he has been denied access to family visits and adequate health care, in violation of Chinese and international law. Guo is serving a four-year sentence on subversion charges for his critical writings and pro-democracy activities.

PEN considers journalist Guo Qizhen 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.

According to PEN’s information, cyber-dissident Guo Qizhen was arrested at his home on 12 May 2006 and charged with "inciting subversion of state power" for his pro-democracy activities and anti-government articles published on overseas websites. He was sentenced to four years in prison on 16 October 2006. Guo was suffering from a broken leg at the time of his arrest, and his health has reportedly deteriorated in prison due to lack of adequate health care and ill-treatment. On 17 April 2007, he was transferred to the No.4 Prison in Shijiazhuang, the capital city of Hebei Province, where he was denied family visits until 18 June 2007, when his wife was finally able to see him. At this visit his wife reported that he had sustained serious bruising, allegedly as a result of beatings by fellow in-mates orchestrated by prison guards.

All PEN members are encouraged to write letters to the Chinese authorities: 

- Expressing serious concerns about the health and well-being of Guo Qizhen, and urging that whilst detained his basic rights are respected and that he is granted full access to his family and all necessary medical care;
- Calling on the authorities to investigate the alleged beatings suffered in prison, and bring those responsible to account;
- Protesting the detention of Internet writer Guo Qizhen, and calling 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.

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

Guo Qizhen

CHINA: Internet journalist charged with subversion; health concerns.

June 2006

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of Internet writer Guo Qizhen, who has reportedly been held since 12 May 2006 on subversion charges for his critical writings and pro-democracy activities. Guo is said to be in poor health and held without access to adequate care. International PEN considers journalist Guo Qizhen 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.

According to PEN’s information, cyber-dissident Guo Qizhen was arrested at his home on 12 May 2006 and charged with ‘inciting subversion of state power’ on 8 June 2006. His arrest appears to be linked to his participation in a rotating hunger strike which has been taking place by pro-democracy activists since 4 February 2006 to protest against human rights violations in China. The charges are believed to be based on his anti-government articles published online on overseas websites.

Guo is currently held incommunicado, and without access to his family, at Cangzhou detention centre No.2 in Hebei Province, central China. There are reports that he has a broken leg and is in a fragile psychological state, for reasons that remain unclear to PEN. The detention centre where he is held is said to lack the medical facilities required to give him adequate treatment.

Please send appeals:
- protesting the detention of Internet writer Guo Qizhen, and calling 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;
- expressing serious concerns about his health, and urging that whilst detained his basic rights are respected and that he is granted full access to his family and all necessary medical care.

Appeals to:
His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People's Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
The People's Republic of China

Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang
Supreme People's Procuratorate
Beiheyan Street 147
100726 Beijing
The People's Republic of China