Shi Tao is a journalist and poet who wrote for daily Chinese publication Dangdai ShangBao (Contemporary Business News) based in Changsha. Shi also contributed to other newspapers and was active on the Internet; he submitted articles and supplied occasional political commentary to overseas Chinese web sites such as the dissident MinZhu LunTan ("Democracy Forum”). His essays often call for political reform in government. He has also written several books of poetry.
Shi is currently serving a 10-year sentence for “illegally divulging state secrets abroad” for sending information via e-mail on media control plans in advance of the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Chinese authorities based their charges against Shi on user information Yahoo! (Hong Kong) Holdings, Ltd. provided. Shi was convicted on June 9, 2004 and is not due for release from prison until November 2014.
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