EU must speak out for release of a seriously ill regime critic

Today Monday the EU-China summit meeting takes place in Nanjing and the Society for Theatened Peoples STP (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker GfbV) is appealing to the European Union to speak out for release of the seriously ill regime critic, Yang Tongyan, who is imprisoned in this Chinese town. The writer, who was condemned to twelve years imprisonment, has lost so much weight that he can hardly move, reported fellow-prisoners to the GfbV. "If Yang Tongyan is not released quickly from prison and at last given proper medical treatment, only the worst can be expected”, warned the STP Asia consultant, Ulrich Delius, in a letter to the President of the EU Council, Fredrik Reinfeldt, the President of the EU Commission, José Manual Barroso, and the EU Representative for Foreign Affairs, Javier Solana.

The political prisoner, who is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, is now also suffering from gastric tuberculosis, peritonitis and nephritis. His arthritis is such that he has extreme difficulty in walking.

The writer and journalist is the most well-known political prisoner in Nanjing . At the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2009 thousands of visitors signed a postcard campaign of the STP for his release. The 47-year old member of the "Independent Chinese PEN Centre” was sentenced in May 2006 to twelve years imprisonment for "subversive activities”. He was accused of working for the democratisation of China and having described China ’s government as a "dictatorial regime”. He was also a member of the forbidden "Chinese Democratic Party” and in internet reports published at home and abroad he criticised corruption, the misuse of power and the mishandling of prisoners in custody.

Although he has for a long time been suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis he has been granted no relaxation of jail conditions. In 2007 he had to produce footballs and basketballs for eight to ten hours per day under conditions which further

damaged his health.

Ulrich Delius can also be reached at asien@gfbv.de