One cyber-dissident freed, but two others get custodial sentences

Reporters Without Borders regrets that the release of Urumqi-based cyber-dissident Tao Haidong on 8 July on completing a seven-year jail sentence has been overshadowed by the custodial sentences passed on two other cyber-dissidents and human rights activists, Zhang Qi and Zhang Peng, for criticising the government online. Zhang Qi, an independent blogger based in the southwestern city of Chongqing, was sentenced on 7 July to four years in prison and two years without civic rights for “inciting subversion of state authorities” in his blog. Zhang Peng, a blogger based in Shenyang, the capital of northeastern Liaoning province, was sentenced without a trial on 27 June to 18 months in a reeducation camp on the same charge for referring to the 1989 pro-democracy movement. “Tao Haidong was only freed because he had completed his sentence, while two other cyber-dissidents, Zhang Qi and Zhang Peng, have been convicted because of their opinions,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The repression never lets up, regardless of the reassuring comments by the Chinese leaders,” the press freedom organisation added. “We firmly condemn these sentences, which yet again highlight the severity with which the regime punishes those who express views at variance with those of the ruling Communist Party.” Zhang Qi, 26, had been held in Qixian prison since 26 June 2008 in connection with eight articles he had posted on line. His arrest was formally confirmed by the Chongqing Public Security Bureau on 31 July 2008. Zhang Peng, 27, had been held since 28 May of this year in Shenxin prison for making T-shirts commemorating the 1989 democracy movement and for posting an article online entitled “Is there really nobody who dares to be on the street for the 4 June commemoration?” (referring to the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre). Tao Haidong was arrested on 9 July 2002 by the Public Security Bureau in Urumqi, the capital of the troubled far-western province of Xinjiang, for criticising the government in articles posted online and in a book about its economic policies. He was sentenced on 16 February 2003 to seven years in prison and three years without civic rights.