* Wang Dan, 28, one of the principal student leaders of the 1989 democracy movement, was sentenced on October 30, 1996, to eleven years' imprisonment and two years' deprivation of political rights for "conspiring to subvert the government." Wang's "crimes" included: joining with others to express his views on democracy and freedom of expression; criticizing the government in articles published in Hong Kong and Taiwan; and raising money to support needy dissidents and their families. On May 21, 1995, Wang was taken from his home shortly after initiating the "Draw Lessons from Blood" petition and signing the "Tolerance" petition. The authorities held him incommunicado for almost 17 months. The government claimed that Wang was under "residential surveillance." On October 10, 1996, the authorities notified his family that they had one day to find a lawyer. His mother and a professional lawyer were only permitted to see Wang for about an hour on October 14 to prepare the defense case. Wang's subsequent appeal was

rejected in a ten-minute hearing on November 15, 1996. Wang spent almost four years in prison following the June 4 crackdown. After his release on parole in February 1993, Wang continued to speak out for democracy and human rights, writing articles and speaking with journalists. Wang is currently held in Liaoning Province's Jinzhou Prison. Contrary to normal practice, Wang's time in incommunicado detention is not being counted toward his sentence. His parents' request that he be granted medical parole has been rejected. He suffers from prostatitis and chronic pharyngitis, and what appears to be a nervous disorder. (Sources: Human Rights in China - New York)