Rights Group Reports Zhang Lin Detained for Writings, Attempting to Attend Funeral of Zhao Ziyang

February 11, 2005

The human rights organization "Reporters Without Borders" (RSF) reported on February 8 that Chinese police have told the wife of pro-democracy activist Zhang Lin that he has been ordered to serve two weeks administrative detention. According to RSF, security authorities arrested Zhang on January 29 in Bengbu, Anhui province, for posting articles on various Web sites.

On January 30, the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported that Zhang Lin and Wang Tingjin had traveled to Beijing on January 27 for the funeral of Zhao Ziyang, but that their request to attend the funeral was rejected by the funeral committee set up by the Chinese Communist Party. ICHRD said that the two were arrested at the Bengbu train station upon their return on January 30, and that, while Wang was released after being detained for five hours, authorities told Zhang he would be detained for 15 days.

According to ICHRD, the 42 year-old Zhang had previously been jailed for eight years for taking part in pro-democracy activities.