CHINA: Internet writer beaten in prison, say reports

Authorities are preventing Internet writer and activist, Guo Qizhen, from receiving proper medical attention

By Leticia Cheng
AsiaMedia Contributing Writer

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Press freedom activists are alarmed by reports that Chinese Internet journalist and activist Guo Qizhen is being abused in prison. Guo's wife, Zhao Changqing, said she was banned from visiting him after discovering his body covered in bruises in June. The injuries were caused by fellow inmates in beatings "orchestrated by prison guards," according to Australian PEN.

Guo has not received medical treatment since his arrest in May, when he fractured his leg. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Zhao says her husband also suffers high blood pressure, migraines and chest pains.

"Reports that imprisoned online writer Guo Qizhen has been mistreated are disturbing. We hold the authorities responsible for his safety and wellbeing," said Joel Simon, executive director of CPJ, in a press release. "He should be allowed adequate medical treatment and family visits immediately."

International PEN, an organization of writers that monitors freedom of speech across the globe, reported that Guo was jailed for advocating human rights and criticizing China's Communist Party on two U.S.-based, Chinese-language websites: Minzhu Lutan (Democracy Forum) and Epoch Times. Guo was charged with "inciting subversion of state power" for his pro-democracy activities and anti-government articles and was sentenced to four years in prison on Oct. 15, 2006.

Zhao claims her husband's imprisonment is illegal, but persuading the courts is proving to be difficult since she must find new legal representation after Guo's original lawyer, a human rights activist, was also taken into custody.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) website, which is providing a summary of human rights developments in China leading up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, reported that the Chinese government still censors all news and information outlets, but the Internet is the most aggressively monitored. Companies like Google, MSN and Yahoo! filter information that the Chinese government deems inappropriate. There are currently 19 online writers and editors incarcerated in China, according to CPJ.

According to HRW, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao justified the government's actions, saying "internet censorship is necessary to safeguard national, social and collective interests."

Date Posted: 9/13/2007