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Alert

Cyber-dissident Yang Jianli marks two years in prison without sentence

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is seeking the release of cyber-dissident Yang Jianli, a resident of the United States (US), who on 26 April 2004 marked his second year of detention in a Chinese prison.

Yang Jianli's wife Christina Fu and their two children, backed by US Congressmen Chris Cox (Republican) and Barney Frank (Democrat), were expected to hold a press conference in Washington demanding his release to mark the event, which was also intended to expose Yang's appalling prison conditions.

RSF fully supports this initiative and calls on European Parliament President Pat Cox to add his weight to the plea to free Yang Jianli.

"China takes offence at a US resolution at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva [condemning its human rights record], but immediately loses its credibility with cases like that of Yang Jianli," RSF said. "Improvements in China's human rights situation are not measured in speeches but in the freeing of political prisoners," the organisation added.

As it stressed in a letter to Pat Cox, RSF believes the European Union has a duty, within the framework of a constructive dialogue with the Chinese authorities, to press for the release of prisoners of conscience.

Some 35 members of the US Congress have signed a petition for Yang Jianli's release. A letter has also been sent to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, who is a senator from Yang Jianli's home state of Massachusetts.

On 15 March, Yang Jianli was placed in solitary confinement, where he remained handcuffed for a week. He had no access to newspapers or television, nor any opportunity for physical exercise. All requests to see his lawyer were declined. The restrictions were imposed three days after he refused to wear his prison uniform, make his bed or respond to his prison number at roll call. The cyber-dissident demanded to be called by his name. On 21 March, Yang Jianli agreed to accept the rules, but was left handcuffed by guards until his wrists bled.

While in solitary confinement, he received a visit from one of the prosecutors in charge of his case. When Yang Jianli advised him of his intention to file a complaint for his ill-treatment, he was informed by the prosecutor that the treatment had been approved by the prosecutor's office.

On 14 April, nearly one month after his original request, he was granted a meeting with his lawyer.