19 April 2006

Alert

Renewed judicial proceedings against detained researcher called "aberration"


Incident details

Zhao Yan

journalist(s)

imprisoned
(RSF/IFEX) - The reopening of judicial proceedings against detained "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan, whose release had been awaited since 17 March 2006, is an "aberration," Reporters Without Borders has said, calling for him to be freed at once.

Zhao's lawyer, Mo Shaoping, said officials told him on 17 April that the proceedings had been reopened on 20 March 2006 on the basis of the same charges that were filed previously. Mo said this was illegal, as the Chinese criminal code has no provision for a judicial investigation to be reopened in this fashion.

The winner of the Reporters Without Borders - Fondation de France press freedom prize in 2005, Zhao has been held for the past 18 months on charges of "divulging state secrets" and "fraud." His release had been awaited ever since the Beijing intermediate people's court No. 2 told Mo on 17 March that the charges against him had been dropped.

When Zhao was not released, Mo began asking court officials for an explanation but got no reply until 17 April. The court and the Chinese government have still not officially confirmed that the case has been reopened.

Zhao was arrested on 20 October 2004 for allegedly revealing to his "New York Times" editors, before it was officially announced, that former President Jiang Zemin was about to resign from his last political post of influence.

Aged 42, Zhao is being held in a state security detention centre in Beijing, where he has reportedly lost 10 kilos and is being denied certain medical treatment.



Source:

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

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Updates to this story

Restrictions loosened for foreign journalists ahead of Olympic Games; appeal court confirms three-year sentence for "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan 6 December 2006 "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan denied open appeal hearing 6 November 2006 "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan appeals against three-year sentence on fraud charge 5 September 2006

More on this case

"New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan tried quickly behind closed doors, without witnesses appearing in court 19 June 2006 "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan indicted again 18 May 2006 Charges dropped against journalist Zhao Yan of "The New York Times" 17 March 2006 Trials of Zhao Yan and Ching Cheong adjourned for lack of evidence 24 February 2006 "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan charged with leaking state secrets 27 December 2005 "New York Times" researcher Zhao Yan marks one year in custody 20 September 2005 New accusation extends jail time without trial for "New York Times" researcher 3 June 2005 CPJ calls for journalist Zhao Yan's release on six-month anniversary of his arrest 18 March 2005 "New York Times" researcher formally arrested 22 October 2004 CPJ protests journalist's detention 27 September 2004

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