China - Six bloggers arrested in Fujian province for reporting gang-rape death

    MONTREAL, July 22 /CNW Telbec/ - Reporters Without Borders calls for the
immediate release of six bloggers based in the southeastern province of Fujian
who were arrested at the end of last month on charges of defamation and high
treason. Lawyers have told the press freedom organisation they are being held
for reporting that a young woman died after being gang-raped in February 2008.
    "Reporting a woman's rape and death is not grounds for arrest," Reporters
Without Borders said. "The police accuse these bloggers of defamation without
saying who was defamed, and accuse them of high treason without offering any
credible evidence of this. This is clearly an attempt by the Fujian
authorities to cover up a tragic case in order to protect influential people."
    The organisation added: "The fact that the detained bloggers are unable
to see the lawyers of their choice reinforces the impression that they are the
victims of a politically-motivated punishment."
    The bloggers were arrested for reporting that, according to the initial
statements of the nurses who treated her, Yan Xiaoling died on 11 February
2008 from a haemorrhage of the uterus after being raped "by at least five or
six persons." This is disputed by the local authorities, who insist that "no
violence was inflicted on Yan Xiaoling."
    Liu Xiaoyuan, a well-known Beijing-based lawyer who is representing one
of the bloggers, You Jingyou, has reported on his own blog
(http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_49daf0ea0100e4xs.html) that nurses at the
Minqing district hospital in Fujian province explained the causes of Yan
Xiaoling's death to her father, Liu Xiuying.
    Despite the gravity of the case, the local authorities showed little
interest in carrying out an investigation. The victim's mother had to pay
5,000 RMB (500 euros) for an autopsy. According to the local authorities, the
final report did not incriminate anyone because it concluded that she died as
a result of an "extra-uterine pregnancy."
    After the announcement of the autopsy results, the dead woman's father
turned to various courts without success and the case was finally reported by
the bloggers. No one has been arrested for Yan Xiaoling's rape and ensuing
death but the bloggers said the leading suspect was a karaoke bar manager who
is also an alleged pimp and drug dealer.
    The exact number of citizen journalists arrested in this case is not
clear. Liu Xiaoyuan's blog names six: his own client, You Jingyou, aged in his
40s; Fan Yanqiong, a young woman who being represented by Fujian-based lawyer
Lin Zhong; Wu Huaying, represented by Lin Hongnan, another Fujian-based
lawyer; Guo Bofeng, the young writer of the Amoiist.com blog; Qun Huanhui and
Qun's wife.
    Liu Xiaoyuan's blog criticised the Ma Wei district police's refusal on 15
July to allow the lawyers to see their clients. The police cited article 96 of
criminal code section 2, which allows the police to forbid a lawyer to see a
client in cases involving state secrecy.

    More information :
http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=33902

For further information: Katherine Borlongan, secretary general,
Reporters Without Borders, (514) 521-4111, Cell: (514) 258-4188, Fax: (514)
521-7771, rsfcanada@rsf.org