DATE=1/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244397
TITLE=CHINA / INTERNET TRIAL (S)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A SHANGHAI COURT HAS HANDED DOWN A TWO-YEAR SENTENCE TO A
CHINESE BUSINESSMAN FOR SUBVERSION. HE IS ACCUSED OF SELLING 
E-MAIL ADDRESSES TO A CHINESE DISSIDENT JOURNAL BASED IN THE 
UNITED STATES.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS, 
30-YEAR OLD LIN HAI HAD PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE SUBVERSION 
CHARGE AT A HEARING LAST MONTH, SAYING HE HAD ONLY ENGAGED IN A 
BUSINESS TRANSACTION.

TEXT:  MR. LIN'S WIFE XU HONG, WHO WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND 
WEDNESDAY'S CLOSED DOOR HEARINGS, SAYS SHE LEARNED OF THE 
SENTENCE FROM A COURT OFFICIAL.  MS. XU INSISTED THAT HER HUSBAND
IS INNOCENT OF SUBVERSION AND WAS ONLY TRYING TO DEVELOP BUSINESS
CONTACTS FOR HIS SOFTWARE COMPANY.  

MR. LIN WAS ARRESTED LAST MARCH, AFTER CHINESE AUTHORITIES 
DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD SUPPLIED E-MAIL ADDRESSES OF 30-THOUSAND 
CHINESE COMPUTER USERS TO "V-I-P REFERENCE," A MAGAZINE PUBLISHED
ON THE INTERNET BY CHINESE DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS IN THE UNITED 
STATES.

HE WAS ACCUSED OF UNDERMINING THE POWER OF THE STATE AT A HEARING
IN DECEMBER, BUT NO VERDICT WAS HANDED DOWN AT THAT TIME.

MR. LIN'S SENTENCE COMES AS CHINA IS CRACKING DOWN ON DISSIDENTS 
AND STEPPING UP ITS MONITORING OF THE INTERNET, WHICH NOW HAS 
MORE THAN TWO MILLION CHINESE USERS.  THE GOVERNMENT HAS ERECTED 
BARRIERS TO BLOCK INTERNET SITES THAT IT VIEWS AS  SUBVERSIVE OR 
PORNOGRAPHIC.

NEB/RW/FC/JO

 

20-Jan-99 3:44 AM EST (0844 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.