Chinese webmaster on trial

By Rose Tang
CNN.com Writer

HONG KONG, China -- A Chinese webmaster is on trial on charges of subversion in the country's first ever prosecution case against an Internet content provider.

Huang Qi, a 36-year-old businessman, is standing trial in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, after being jailed for more than eight months, accused of "instigation to subvert state power".

Chengdu police accuse Huang of using his "June 4 Tianwang Missing Persons Website" to post material on pro-democracy activities, Falun Gong and the Xinjiang independence movement.

Western diplomats were told to stay away from the trial on Monday. Huang's wife Zeng Li told CNN.com that she was also barred from the Chengdu Intermediate People's Court. "No one but the lawyers could go in," she said.

The couple set up the site in 1999 to publicize information about missing people.

However many Web users visited the site to post messages on various taboo topics such as the Tiananmen Massacre.

Zeng says that the police used messages from Web users against Huang. "It's unfair. We had never thought we would be accused of subversion crimes," she added.

Sensitive subjects

The couple opened a channel called 'Scream!!' for people to offer opinions and stories after they came across many corruption cases when helping families find missing relatives.

Page views soared and Huang was unable to delete all the 'sensitive' material.

"I regret that we didn't have the sufficient money or technology to manage the forums," Zeng said.

Police closed down the Website in April, 2000, after agents from the Sichuan State Security Bureau visited the couple's office several times.

The Website attracted much attention from the central government and the Chinese media after they carried an expose alleging a Sichuan government-affiliated company had forced thousands of local peasants to have their appendixes cut out before sending them overseas to work as laborers.

Huang subscribed to a US-based server after the closure and was arrested one day before the 11th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre.

"We have a long way before us, I appreciate all of you, all those who help China's democratic progress. The police have come, goodbye! 5:20 pm June-03, 2000", he wrote in his final message.

National praise

Despite Huang's detention the couple continued to receive national praise for their efforts in helping people find their loved ones.

Zeng says she received a medal from the People's Daily at an official Beijing ceremony last month for "having a patriotic heart".

Human Rights Watch says Huang's trial is "a significant test of the limits of free expression".

The group's Hong Kong-based researcher Jan van der Made says that the Chinese government is using Huang's case to send a warning to Chinese web users and operators.

Watson Meng, the site's technical operator, says the case could seriously affect Internet content providers.

"It's dangerous to have open forums on the Web. Now if anyone hates the Internet company, they can just post subversive messages on the site and get the webmaster arrested," he said from his New York home.

Zeng says she has not been allowed to phone or visit her husband since his jailing and police have beaten him up.

"He could be sentenced to years in jail, or eventually become a missing person himself," she said.

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Human Rights Watch
Huang Qi's website

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