Appeals of the four - Yang Zili, Xu Wei, Jin Haike and Zang Honghai - were heard by a Beijing court on 2 November. The trial of pro-democracy activist Jiang Lijun, who also posted material online, took place on 4 November. Judgement in all five cases was reserved. (博讯boxun.com)

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　　Calling on public security minister Zhou Yongkang to release them, Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard said the press freedom organisation was pleased the courts had finally decided to examine the police evidence against them and also that the state prosecutor had asked for more information about jailed cyber-dissident Liu Di.

　　There was "no serious evidence" against Yang Zili, Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Zang Honghai and Jiang Lijun, Ménard said. "We hope the court will acknowledge that their arrest was unjustified and will quash their convictions."

　　Yang, founder of the website lib.126.com (better known as "Yang Chi's Garden of Ideas"), had called in online articles for political democratisation, had criticised repression of the Falungong spiritual movement and deplored the problems faced by the peasantry. The other three whose appeals were heard were also convicted of posting pro-democracy material on the website, as well as being members of a discussion group called The New Youth Society. The four have been in prison since March 2001.

　　Jiang Lijun was tried for "inciting subversion" after posting political material online and faces possible life imprisonment. The prosecution claimed he wanted to introduce democracy by violent means, which he denies. He was arrested on 7 November 2002 after writing an open letter to the 16th Congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party calling for democratic reforms. He is seen as the leader of a small group of cyber-dissidents and is being held at Qincheng prison (near Beijing), where the most important political prisoners are thought to be.

　　The text of this release is available in English, Spanish and French on the Reporters Without Borders website at http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=272 (博讯boxun.com)