| Pen name: | Li Hong |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Date of birth: | March 6, 1958 |
| Date of arrest: | September 6, 2006 |
| Arrested by: | the Public Security Bureau of Ningbo city in Zhejiang Province |
| Reason of arrest: | Published dissent articles on the internet |
| Charge: | instigating to overthrow the national regime |
| Date of sentence: | March 19, 2007 |
| Sentenced by: | Senior People’s Court of Zhejiang Province |
| Term of imprisonment: | 6 years |
Zhang Jianhong (張建紅) (March 6, 1958-December 31, 2010[1]), pen name Li Hong (力虹), was a freelance writer, playwright, poet, and also a democracy activist. He was born on March 6, 1958 in Ningbo city of Zhejiang Province, China.
Zhang was previously illegally imprisoned from 1989-1991 for his pro-democracy activities. In August 2005 Zhang and his friends founded the literary and news website Aegean Sea Aiqinhai.org, of which he was editor-in-chief. Aegean Sea was renowned for its daring articles but was shut down by the authorities on March 9, 2006. After that Zhang became a regular contributor to the overseas Chinese sites The Epoch Times, and often published articles depicting current fraud and corruption and criticizing the China Communist Party (CCP).
Just days after Zhang posted an essay online about China's human rights record and, in particular, the treatment of journalists and their sources in the run-up to the 2008 Olympic games, on the evening of September 6, 2006 over 20 CCP policemen raided Zhang’s home in Ningbo and arrested Zhang, according to his wife Dong Min.
Zhang was accused of writing 60 articles that "slandered the government and China's socialist system" and “incitement to subversion of state power” . His articles written in 2006 includes:
The Stolen Organs are Screaming
Olympic Games will start while Organ Harvest is still increasing
Facing Organ Harvest, Laws Are Going to Be Legislated
Facing Investigation Report,[2] What Will Bush Say?
Willing to Participate This Historic Investigation
What Does Wu Hongda Want to Do?
Spreading Nine-Commentaries & Promoting Quitting-CCP-System are the Barriers that CCP can not Pass
Return Me Gao Zhisheng, Return Me The Conscience of China
On March 19, 2007 Zhang was illegally sentenced for 6 years in prison plus one year’s deprivation of political rights by Senior People's Court of Zhejiang Province that was controlled by CCP Central Political and Law Commission.
After that, Zhang was immediately transferred to Huzhou Changhu prison. In Changhu prison Zhang was reportedly suffering from muscle necrosis, a condition which is deteriorating due to lack of adequate medical care in jail. A medical evaluation determined that he suffered from a rare nerve disorder that could lead to permanent paralysis if not treated. On his doctor’s advice, he applied for medical parole on 31 May 2007. There has been no response to his application and he has instead been transferred to Zhejiang Prison.
As Zhang’s health was turning worse in Zhejiang Prison, he recently was sent to Hangzhou Qingchun Hospital (another name of the hospital is Zhengjian Central Prison Hospital). It is reported that Zhang’s neuron disease is considered as an incurable disease in the medical field. Currently the illness has led to his partial paralysis and continues to deteriorate despite transfer to the General Hospital of Zhejiang Prison in Hangzhou City. He cannot eat, but is on a drip. His life is at stake.
Zhang’s wife Dong Min repeatedly applied medical parole for him but CCP rejected the appeal.
Since Zhang was arrested, many overseas human rights supporters appealed for him.[3]
On June 5 5pm, Lihong was released on medical parole [4] and was sent to a hospital in Ningbo, Lihong's hometown. Lihong was under critical condition, and his family could not afford the huge medical cost. But on June 9 it was confirmed that the Chinese authority had blocked two donation accounts that were used for accepting oversea donations.[5] He died on New Year's Eve 2010. His body was quickly cremated by the authorities, and 10 of his friends were put under house arrest to prevent them from holding a memorial for him.[1][6]