Wu Zhengyou, publisher

Wu Zhenyou was convicted of illegal publishing, fraud, and extortion together with Zhu Wanxiang after they reported on land disputes in the Zhonghua Xin Qingnian magazine (New China Youth). The journalists were sentenced to ten and six years in prison respectively on 17 January 2006.

As editors of New China Youth, Zhu and Wu had reported on villagers' protests over government seizure of land for development and a violent demonstration in the city of Lishui in May 2005. Two of the articles in question were particularly provocative. The first was titled "Appeal of the Peasants" and the second "When Power Replaces Law, What Happens to the Law? Return Our Human Rights." Both articles appeared during a time of heightened tensions between villagers and local authorities.

Zhu and Wu were charged with extorting money from rural villagers and government officials while reporting. They were also convicted of illegally raising funds for the magazine.

The journalists were detained in August 2005. Authorities claimed that Zhu and Wu forged journalist accreditation and illegally published their magazine. Zhu had registered the New China Youth Join Company Ltd in Hong Kong in August 2002, but the magazine was not registered in China.

The journalists were also reportedly convicted of raising 3 million yuan (US$240,000) in investment funds for the Zhonghua Xin Qingnian. This was deemed illegal fundraising since it was not registered.

The two journalists were tried on 28 December 2005, along with another colleague at the Liandu district court in the city of Lishui, Zhejiang Province.

­