Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIJING837
2007-02-02 09:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS: ZHAO YAN RELEASE BEFORE FEBRUARY 18?
how-toVZCZCXRO6083 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #0837 0330917 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 020917Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4462 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000837
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, EAP/PD, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2032
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: ZHAO YAN RELEASE BEFORE FEBRUARY 18?
REF: 06 BEIJING 17951
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David S. Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000837
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, EAP/PD, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2032
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: ZHAO YAN RELEASE BEFORE FEBRUARY 18?
REF: 06 BEIJING 17951
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David S. Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
1. (C) Zhao Yan will "definitely" be released before
Chinese New Year (which starts February 18),an
unnamed Chinese government official told a Reporters
Without Borders delegation visiting Beijing, according
to New York Times Bureau Chief Joe Kahn. Kahn told
Poloff on February 2 that Reporters Without Borders
handed the government official a list of cases of
concern that included journalists and internet writers
who are currently imprisoned. When the official
reached Zhao Yan's name on the list, he reportedly
told the group that they should "strike Zhao Yan's
name from the list" because his release is imminent.
2. (C) Kahn told Poloff that prison authorities have
recently become more lenient towards Zhao, who is
scheduled for release in September 2007. Prison
authorities have permitted family members to visit
Zhao in prison in the time since the Beijing High
Court affirmed Zhao's fraud conviction on December 1.
Family members report that Zhao's physical health is
good and that authorities allow Zhao to read English-
language materials previously refused to him. Kahn
cited appreciation for United States Government
efforts to raise Zhao's case and requested continued
attention to the case.
RANDT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, EAP/PD, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2032
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: ZHAO YAN RELEASE BEFORE FEBRUARY 18?
REF: 06 BEIJING 17951
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David S. Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
1. (C) Zhao Yan will "definitely" be released before
Chinese New Year (which starts February 18),an
unnamed Chinese government official told a Reporters
Without Borders delegation visiting Beijing, according
to New York Times Bureau Chief Joe Kahn. Kahn told
Poloff on February 2 that Reporters Without Borders
handed the government official a list of cases of
concern that included journalists and internet writers
who are currently imprisoned. When the official
reached Zhao Yan's name on the list, he reportedly
told the group that they should "strike Zhao Yan's
name from the list" because his release is imminent.
2. (C) Kahn told Poloff that prison authorities have
recently become more lenient towards Zhao, who is
scheduled for release in September 2007. Prison
authorities have permitted family members to visit
Zhao in prison in the time since the Beijing High
Court affirmed Zhao's fraud conviction on December 1.
Family members report that Zhao's physical health is
good and that authorities allow Zhao to read English-
language materials previously refused to him. Kahn
cited appreciation for United States Government
efforts to raise Zhao's case and requested continued
attention to the case.
RANDT