Chinese dissident writer jailed for subversion
A veteran Chinese dissident writer was sentenced to 12 years in prison today on subversion charges.
Yang Tianshui was found guilty after a half-day, closed-door trial in the eastern city of Zhenjiang, said lawyer Li Jianqiang.
Li said evidence presented against Yang had been declared secret and declined to give details.
However, he said the government lawyer had sought to prove Yang acted in collusion with “hostile overseas forces” – a charge often linked to sending information to overseas human rights groups or posting essays on websites hosted abroad.
“We think Yang is innocent and should be released immediately,” Li said. “I regret this result deeply.”
Li said the heavy sentence appeared to have been ordered because Yang had previously served a 10-year sentence for criticising the bloody 1989 army suppression on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Yang was detained again last Christmas amid what appeared to be a new attempt by communist authorities to muzzle discussion of social problems, democracy and government policies.
China frequently uses its vaguely defined national security laws to silence critics and perceived foes ranging from human rights advocates, to religious activists and even independent investigators into corruption, Aids, environmental damage and other less overtly political issues.
Li said Yang had denied the subversion charge but made no statement at his trial and didn’t plan to appeal.
“We pretty much expected this,” said Li.
While intolerant of all dissent, China’s communist government under President Hu Jintao has aggressively moved against writers and others who broadcast their views to a larger audience.
Hundreds of small publications have been shut down, while regulations on website content have been tightened. China is believed to be the world’s leading jailer of journalists, with at least 42 behind bars, many on security or subversion charges.
