The Longbow Papers

Zhao Yan is free at last. Please read the article by Jim Yardley in today's The New York Times, excerpted and linked to below.

Zhao Yan, center, is greeted by friends and relatives after he was released from the state security prison in Beijing.

China Releases Jailed New York Times Employee

By JIM YARDLEY
Published: September 15, 2007

BEIJING, Saturday, Sept. 15 -- Zhao Yan, a Chinese researcher for The New York Times, walked out of a prison here shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday after serving three years on a fraud conviction that prompted international outrage and criticism of China's legal system.

Mr. Zhao was greeted with hugs by a gathering of family and friends. He looked relieved, noticeably thinner and a little shaken.

"I would like to thank my family, friends and my employer for their steadfast concern and support," he said in a statement released on Saturday morning. "These three years I have missed my family very much, especially my maternal grandmother, who is now more than 100 years old. For that reason, I want some time to reunite with my family."

Mr. Zhao, 45, said he would issue a fuller statement "at some point in the near future."

Please continue reading at The New York Times.

The photograph above was published in The New York Times and was taken by Claro Cortes IV/Reuters.

 

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2 Comments:

Glad to hear this news
I still remember when we were asked to write editorials over Zhao Yan's case, i used to hold a pessimistic view about his future, never excepted that he could be released in three years ~
However, even if he is free now, the three-year prison life and the trauma brought by it may never be erased from Zhao Yan's life
Sigh~
Nancy

anyhow,

By nancy, at 11:30 AM  

Dear Nancy,

It's nice to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to remember that semester and leave a touching comment.

What are you doing these days? I trust all is well.

Sincerely,

Joseph Bosco

By Editor, at 1:44 PM  

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