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Lawyers seek release of Chinese New York Times researcher
Beijing (AFP) Jul 27, 2006 Lawyers for detained New York Times researcher Zhao Yan said Thursday they would apply for their client to be released, after a court failed to announce a verdict on his case. "As the court has failed to reach a verdict within the time frame specified by the law, we consider Zhao Yan to now be under illegal detention," one of Zhao's lawyers, Guan Anping, told AFP. Guan said he would be filing a motion with a Beijing intermediate court Thursday calling for Zhao's release. He added the court had already postponed the trial's verdict for a month but was required by law to reach a verdict on July 25. "There are plenty of measures the court can take in this kind of instance," Guan said. "For example they can release him under house arrest." Phone calls by AFP to the intermediate court handling Zhao's case went unanswered on Thursday morning. Zhao, 44, was tried for leaking state secrets -- a charge carrying the death penalty -- and fraud in an eight-hour trial on June 16. He pleaded not-guilty to both charges. No witnesses were allowed to testify on Zhao's behalf and the trial was held behind closed doors because of the charges relating to state secrets. Zhao was taken into police custody in September 2004 after the New York Times correctly reported that former president Jiang Zemin was about to resign from his last official post as the country's top military leader. At the time, Jiang's retirement was a closely guarded state secret, although it was widely expected. Zhao's case has caused a diplomatic storm between China and the United States, with Washington repeatedly calling on Beijing to release him and respect the freedom of the press. The case has been fraught with irregularities, his lawyers have said. In March, just weeks ahead of a visit to the United States by Chinese President Hu Jintao, charges against Zhao were mysteriously dropped, only to be illegally reinstated after Hu returned from Washington to China, they said. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links China News from SinoDaily.com
Cambodian PM thanks China for unconditional aid, urges stronger ties
Phnom Penh (AFP) Jul 26, 2006 Cambodia's premier Wednesday urged stronger ties with China, saying that, unlike Western donors, Beijing continues to give millions in aid without making demands on his impoverished country. |
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