China Focus: 4 June

International PEN's China Campaign features monthly actions on freedom of expression issues in China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games which open on 8 August 2008. This month's action marks the anniversary of the crackdown on the 1989 pro-democracy protests. For more information on the campaign and how to take part please visit the PEN website: PEN China Campaign. Also go to International PEN Poem Relay (Sydney/Swiss German PEN), www.penpoemrelay.org, and ‘We Are Ready For Free Expression' (American, Canadian and Independent Chinese PEN), www.pen.org .

NEW ARRESTS

In April and May 2008, PEN recorded five new arrests of writers and journalists in China and Tibet:

Jamyang Kyi, prominent Tibetan singer and a song-writer, internet writer and feminist activist, was reportedly arrested on 1 April 2008 for her writings and activism. There are unconfirmed reports that she has now been released.

Journalist and human rights activist Naranbilig (Inner Mongolia), placed under a one-year house arrest order on 12 April 2008 after a brief detention: RSF Report on Naranbilig

Dissident writer and member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre Zhou Yuanzhi was arrested on 3 May 2008 on suspicion of ‘inciting subversion of state power' for his critical articles. He was released on 15 May but remains under heavy restriction.

Dissident writer and journalist Chen Daojun was detained on 9 May 2008 near the city of Chengdu, Sichuan province, and charged with subversion after publishing an article and campaigning on environmental issues. There has been no news of him since the devastating earthquake in the province on 12 May 2008.

Writer and academic Guo Quan briefly detained for articles critical of the government response to the Sichuan earthquake: Guo Quan Alert - IFEX