KateYHuang
09-21-2004, 09:35 PM
South Metropolitan Daily Editor Released From Prison
GUANGZHOU - On August 9, MingBao News reported that Deng Haiyan, the vice-chief editor of South Metropolitan Daily was released on August 5 after having been detained for seven months on bribery charges. Analysis shows that his release may have been the result of public opinion in China and abroad, as well as the pressure brought to bear by senior members in the Chinese Communist Party. This also highlights the significance of this case for the future. However, at present it is not known whether Deng was released because of a ¡¥not guilty¡¦ verdict in court, or for other reasons.
Prior to this case, Yu Huafeng, former general manager of the same newspaper, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, while Cheng Yizhong, former editor-in-chief, remains in custody awaiting trial. This series of arrests is generally viewed as motivated by the retaliation of Guangzhou City officials against South Metropolitan Daily for its exposure of political problems. The release of Deng has sparked a fairly significant controversy both in China and overseas.
Arrest Ordered by Member of the Guangzhou Political and Judiciary Committee
Information shows that before the 2004 Chinese New Year, the Guangzhou Procuratorate (a government body to investigate legal cases) believed that they lacked sufficient evidence to detain Deng Haiyan and prepared to release her. However, on January 19, on visiting the Procuratorate and inquiring into the details of the case, a high-profile member of the Guangzhou Political and Judiciary Committee, emphasized that none of the employees from South Metropolitan Daily are to be released and that they should be strictly investigated. The next day, the Procuratorate immediately ordered the arrest of Deng.
The June issue of Asia Week sheds some light on Zhang Guifang, the Guangzhou Political and Judiciary Committee member suspected of having directed the attack on South Metropolitan Daily. It reported that during the Cultural Revolution, Zhang Guifang prospered in the political arena through sly and dishonest dealings. In 1992, when Zhang Guifang was the secretary of Tianghe District of Guangzhou City, his brother, Zhang Jitian who was involved in real estate, gained dominion over the pricing and development of the most valuable region directly across from the government office building.
Senior Members in the Communist Party Submit a Joint Letter of Appeal
Many high level employees of South Metropolitan Daily were suddenly arrested this year for their involvement in ¡¥financial transgressions.¡¦ Yu Huafeng, former general manager and chief editor, along with Li Minying¡Xa board member of Southern Metropolitan Daily Group who was assigned to work with the newspaper¡Xwere sentenced to 10 years and 11 years respectively. Nanfang Daily was under great pressure previously for reporting on the Sun Zhigang Case. In addition, a manager was dismissed as a result of giving an exclusive report on the re-emergence of SARS in Guangzhou on December 27 of last year.
Following the Deng incident, the general public in China and abroad appears to believe that the officials of Guangdong Province were simply using financial accusations to retaliate against South Metropolitan Daily for exposing political issues.
The Deng Haiyan Case has also received inquiries from Hu Jintao. In addition, former first secretary of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Ren Zhongyi; former secretary of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Wu Nansheng and over 20 former and current high-level officials have submitted a joint letter of appeal to Zhang Dejiang. All these factors appear to have contributed to the positive outcome of this case.
GUANGZHOU - On August 9, MingBao News reported that Deng Haiyan, the vice-chief editor of South Metropolitan Daily was released on August 5 after having been detained for seven months on bribery charges. Analysis shows that his release may have been the result of public opinion in China and abroad, as well as the pressure brought to bear by senior members in the Chinese Communist Party. This also highlights the significance of this case for the future. However, at present it is not known whether Deng was released because of a ¡¥not guilty¡¦ verdict in court, or for other reasons.
Prior to this case, Yu Huafeng, former general manager of the same newspaper, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, while Cheng Yizhong, former editor-in-chief, remains in custody awaiting trial. This series of arrests is generally viewed as motivated by the retaliation of Guangzhou City officials against South Metropolitan Daily for its exposure of political problems. The release of Deng has sparked a fairly significant controversy both in China and overseas.
Arrest Ordered by Member of the Guangzhou Political and Judiciary Committee
Information shows that before the 2004 Chinese New Year, the Guangzhou Procuratorate (a government body to investigate legal cases) believed that they lacked sufficient evidence to detain Deng Haiyan and prepared to release her. However, on January 19, on visiting the Procuratorate and inquiring into the details of the case, a high-profile member of the Guangzhou Political and Judiciary Committee, emphasized that none of the employees from South Metropolitan Daily are to be released and that they should be strictly investigated. The next day, the Procuratorate immediately ordered the arrest of Deng.
The June issue of Asia Week sheds some light on Zhang Guifang, the Guangzhou Political and Judiciary Committee member suspected of having directed the attack on South Metropolitan Daily. It reported that during the Cultural Revolution, Zhang Guifang prospered in the political arena through sly and dishonest dealings. In 1992, when Zhang Guifang was the secretary of Tianghe District of Guangzhou City, his brother, Zhang Jitian who was involved in real estate, gained dominion over the pricing and development of the most valuable region directly across from the government office building.
Senior Members in the Communist Party Submit a Joint Letter of Appeal
Many high level employees of South Metropolitan Daily were suddenly arrested this year for their involvement in ¡¥financial transgressions.¡¦ Yu Huafeng, former general manager and chief editor, along with Li Minying¡Xa board member of Southern Metropolitan Daily Group who was assigned to work with the newspaper¡Xwere sentenced to 10 years and 11 years respectively. Nanfang Daily was under great pressure previously for reporting on the Sun Zhigang Case. In addition, a manager was dismissed as a result of giving an exclusive report on the re-emergence of SARS in Guangzhou on December 27 of last year.
Following the Deng incident, the general public in China and abroad appears to believe that the officials of Guangdong Province were simply using financial accusations to retaliate against South Metropolitan Daily for exposing political issues.
The Deng Haiyan Case has also received inquiries from Hu Jintao. In addition, former first secretary of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Ren Zhongyi; former secretary of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Wu Nansheng and over 20 former and current high-level officials have submitted a joint letter of appeal to Zhang Dejiang. All these factors appear to have contributed to the positive outcome of this case.