English PEN´s Writers in Prison Committee supports more than 700 writers persecuted worldwide for exercising their right to freedom of expression. As part of their campaigning work, PEN has been highlighting an individual case each month since 2003, initiating appeals to heads of state and relevant government departments and providing vital background information about the country and writers concerned. (03-FEB-05)

February 2006´s prisoner of the month is Shi Tao of the People´s Republic of China. Currently there are more cyber-dissidents in prison in the People´s Republic of China than in anywhere else in the world, 31 of them serving lengthy terms for their work. Shi Tao, a poet, freelance journalist and writer, was arrested on 24 November 2004 after he emailed notes detailing the propaganda ministry´s instructions to the media regarding the anniversary of Tiananmen Square. He was subsequently charged with “leaking state secrets” and was sentence to ten years in prison on 27 April 2005. Information used to convict Shi Tao was said to be provided by by Internet Service Provider Yahoo!.

The San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation, which advocates for the release of political prisoners in the People´s Republic of China, has translated the court´s verdict into English. According to this translation, the verdict reveals that Yahoo! Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited provided Chinese police with detailed information enabling them to link Shi Tao´s personal email account and a specific message containing the alleged state secret to his computer.

PEN has voiced concern over Yahoo!´s alleged role in the conviction, and its apparent disregard for Shi Tao´s right to free expression.

English PEN asserts that Shi Tao is being held in contravention of his right to free expression as guaranteed under Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and calls for individuals and organizations to write to Hu Jintao, China´s president, appealing for the  immediate and unconditional release of the prisoner.

Letters should be addressed to:

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People´s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100020
P. R. the People´s Republic of China