Yang Zili, a writer and Web developer, Xu Wei, a reporter for the newspaperConsumer Daily ("Xiaofei Ribao"), Zhang Honghai, a free-lance writer, andJin Haike, a geologist by profession, were charged with subversion on April20, according to the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy. The four were active participants in the New Youth Study Group("Xin Qingnian Xuehui"), an informal gathering of individuals who exploredtopics related to political and social reform and used the Internet tocirculate relevant articles.

"We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Yang Zili, Xu Wei,Zhang Honghai, and Jin Haike," CPJ executive director Ann Cooper wrote inthe letter to President Jiang. "CPJ is deeply disturbed that the Chinesegovernment continues to wield subversion charges against people who publishpolitically controversial views."

Yang and Xu were detained separately on March 13. Less is known about thecircumstances under which Zhang and Jin were detained, but they were alsotaken into custody around mid-March, according to the Information Centre.

Yang, the most prominent member of the group, is well known in liberalacademic circles for his technological expertise in evading governmentfirewalls and setting up e-mail accounts that could not be monitored,according to a recent report in The New York Times. His Web site, titled"Yang Zili's Garden of Ideas" ("Yangzi de Sixiang Jiayuan"), featured poems,essays and reports by various authors on subjects ranging from theparticular shortcomings of rural elections to broad discussions of politicaltheory. Authorities shut down the site following Yang's arrest, according toa well-informed source in the U.S. who did not wish to be identified but hasset up a mirror site (www.bringmenews.com/China/freeyzl/mirror/) thatremained accessible as of today.

When Xu was detained on March 13, authorities confiscated his computer,reporting equipment, and books, according to an account published online byhis girlfriend, Wang Ying. Public security officials also ordered theConsumer Daily to fire Xu, according to Wang's account. The newspaper hasrefused to discuss Xu's case with reporters, according to The AssociatedPress.

With local print and broadcast media under Chinese Communist Party control,the Internet has been a crucial venue for independent news and opinion inthe country. The Chinese government has, however, attempted to check thepower of the Internet by issuing a slew of regulations that criminalize theonline publication of "illegal content," a vague term that can be applied toany news produced without official permission.

The arrests of Yang Zili, Xu Wei, Zhang Honghai, and Jin Haike come amid anapparent government crackdown on reform-minded intellectuals. In recentmonths, notably, authorities have detained at least five overseas-basedChinese academics. On May 3, 2001, CPJ named President Jiang Zemin to itsannual list of the 10 Worst Enemies of the Press.

To read CPJ's letter to President Jiang and for more information on pressconditions in China, including "The Great Firewall," our special report ongovernment efforts to control the Internet, visit the CPJ Web site at. CPJ is a New York-based, nonpartisan, nonprofit organizationof journalists that works to defend press freedom around the world.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:Kavita Menon (New York) - tel: +1-212-465-1004 x140; asia@cpj.org