Chinese Internet writer sentenced to 12 years: backed free elections

[DeepModem Mom]

Reuters: Chinese Internet writer sentenced to 12 years

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese Internet writer was jailed for 12 years on Tuesday for "subversion of state power" after backing a movement by exiled dissidents to hold free elections, his lawyer said.

Yang Tianshui, 45, who has been in custody since last December, did not plan to appeal, a protest against a trial he felt was illegal, his lawyer, Li Jianqiang, said.

"We expected the result, but we are still dissatisfied because he is innocent," Li told Reuters.

It was one of the heaviest prison terms meted out in recent years to an Internet writer. Writer Shi Tao was sentenced last April to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets abroad.

Yang is one of several Internet writers and journalists being tried this month, amid what analysts say is a tightening of controls on media and freedom of expression....

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=internetNews&storyid=2006-05-16T122751Z_01_PEK304896_RTRUKOC_0_US-RIGHTS-CHINA.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

[GodlessBiker]

1. Fucking bastards!

[Virginia Dare]

2. Welcome to our future...

the way things are going.

[Miss Chybil]

3. Exactly. nt

[saigon68]

12. "Freedom and democracy are on the March"---the chimp

That after all is "Freedom" to make a buck

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. Future? I'm afraid we are already there.

I wonder if the Chinese tap their reporter's telephones and hack into their e-mails?

[Virginia Dare]

8. Indeed they do...

they also open your mail and check your bank accounts.

[NVMojo]

4. China Launches Severe Crackdown on Media

No wonder Bush got along so well with the head cheese of China ...

BEIJING (AP) - A freelance writer was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday, receiving an unusually harsh penalty amid one of China's most severe media crackdowns since the 1980s.

The sentencing of Yang Tianshui on subversion charges was one of a flurry of court actions Tuesday against Chinese reporters. In Beijing, prosecutors filed a new indictment against a Chinese researcher for The New York Times who has been in custody since 2004 on state secrets charges. In southern China, a journalist went on trial and pleaded innocent to extortion charges.

Yang was convicted after being accused of posting articles on foreign Web sites, receiving money from abroad and helping a would-be opposition party, according to his lawyer, Li Jianqiang.

"We think Yang is innocent and should be released immediately," Li said by phone from the eastern city of Zhenjiang. "I regret this result deeply."

The cases come amid a campaign by President Hu Jintao's government to tighten control over newspapers, Web sites and other media, stamping out content deemed politically or morally dangerous.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-asia/2006/may/16/051605566.html

[Caution]

6. Which country is more oppressive?

China: 1 billion people
US 300 Million

Country with more people in prison: US. By far. And I'm not talking by percentage. But China has the uber oppresive government.

I don't doubt that China is run by one seriously nasty group of people that daily pushes abhorrent human rights abuses. But anyone who thinks the US has some great honorable "justice" system is kidding themselves at this point.

Crackdowns on government protestors?
China: Tianenmen Square.
US: Portland.

China cracking down on media.
US: Spying on journalists.

Anyone care to add to these?

[Psephos]

9. Here's one

Country that sells body parts on order, obtained from freshly killed prisoners as the need arises:
- China

Google the following phrase: body parts sale china prisoners

Just a thought.

Peace.

[Vidar]

7. Coming soon to the US if we don't manage to imprison our rulers.

[brentspeak]

10. And Bush will strongly protest this violation of human rights

by eliminating tarrifs on all Chinese imports and looking the other way as China triples tarrifs on all US exports.

[Triana]

11. Coming to a United States Near You...

...this is just a preview...