Imprisoned Chinese writer wins press freedom award

Imprisoned Chinese web journalist Xu Wei has been awarded the 2003 International Press Freedom Award by campaign group Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE).

Xu Wei was imprisoned in 2001 on charges of subversion for his role in publishing a web site promoting political discussion and democratic reform. Earlier this year he was sentenced to 10 years in prison - a term widely condemned by press freedom groups.

Joel Ruimy, executive director at CJFE, told dotJournalism that Xu Wei's case is particularly interesting.

"Xu Wei represents a new frontier," he said.

"It is well-documented that the Chinese government aggressively restricts access to information for its citizens.

"The awards were established in 1998 to shine the spotlight on press freedom issues and to honour the journalists that put their lives on the line."

The award will be presented at a fundraising dinner in Toronto, Canada on 6 November. CJFE is investigating the possibility that Xu Wei's father could collect the award on his behalf.

"In the next few years, there will be increasing conflict between governments trying to control information and the expansive nature of the web," said Mr Ruimy.

"But these regimes will lose the battle to restrict free expression. The internet is just too widespread."

• Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders this week reported that Chinese authorities have released web journalist and economist Qi Yanchen one year earlier than expected.

Qi Yanchen had served two years of a four-year sentence for 'subversion' and 'distributing anti-government news' after publishing pro-democracy essays on the internet.

See also:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story658.html
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story673.html
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story670.html
http://www.cjfe.org
http://www.rsf.org

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