Gao Yu (journalist)
| Gao Yu | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
26 June 1944 Chongqing, China |
| Alma mater | Renmin University of China |
| Occupation | Journalist, columnist |
Gao Yu (Chinese: ; born in 26 June 1944) is a Chinese journalist and dissident who has been repeatedly imprisoned.
Gao was born in June 26, 1944 in Chongqing. She attended the Language and Literature Department at the Renmin University of China where she majored in Literary Theory.
Gao began her journalism career in 1979, as a reporter for the China News Service. In 1988, she became deputy chief editor of Economics Weekly, edited by dissident intellectuals. She also worked as a freelance journalist for different newspapers in China and in Hong Kong. In November 1988, she published an article in Hong Kong’s Mirror Monthly, which was described by Beijing's Mayor Chen Xitong as a "political program for turmoil and rebellion". He even branded her as a "people's enemy". She was arrested in 1989, after the Tiananmen Square protests, and released 15 months later because of health problems.
Gao was arrested again in October 1993, and in November 1994 was sentenced to six years, accused of having "published state secrets". In February 1999, she was given parole in poor health.
In 2014, Gao was arrested again a few weeks ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The detention of the outspoken 70-year-old journalist was just one of several detentions of government critics over the previous days ahead of the politically sensitive 4 June anniversary.
In April 2015, Beijing's high court convicted Gao of leaking state secrets and sentenced her to seven years in prison. According to Reporters Without Borders, the authorities accused Gao of sending "Document Number Nine" to a foreign news organization, although the document had already been posted online. Following an appeal, her sentence was reduced to five years on November 26, 2015. Hours later, Chinese state media announced she has been released on medical parole, however the conviction for leaking state secrets was not overturned. As of 2016, she is serving a five-year sentence under house arrest.
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