Civil rights activist detained in Beijing
Xu Zhiyong, a legal rights activist and founder of civil rights group Gongmeng, was taken from his home by Beijing police on Wednesday, it was confirmed yesterday.
The move raises further concern of a clampdown on rights group ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic in October. This news came after another non-governmental group, the Yirenping Centre, was raided by authorities on Wednesday for illegal publishing.
Dr Xu, 36, one of the co-founders of prominent volunteer legal service the Open Constitution Initiative, or Gongmeng, was seen being taken away from his home by a police officer and five plainclothes officers early on Wednesday.
Gongmeng released a statement on its website yesterday saying the guard at his home had seen him being taken away at 5am.
'We have lost all contact with him since Tuesday night, and he must be in big trouble,' said Teng Biao, a rights lawyer and a co-founder of Gongmeng, yesterday.
Dr Xu's mobile phone has been switched off since Tuesday night. His last contact was believed to be a short text message to Mr Teng to arrange a meeting to be held on Wednesday.
'Zhiyong had arranged the meeting but he didn't show up, and we have lost contact with him since Tuesday night. I believe he was detained by the police,' Mr Teng said, adding that the organisation was discussing how to regain contact with him and secure his release.
Dr Xu, as its legal representative, received a notice from the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau and the Beijing branch of the State Administration of Taxation on July 15 ordering Gongmeng to pay 1.23 million yuan (HK$1.39 million) in fines plus 180,000 yuan in back taxes.
Two days later, the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau and police raided the office and took away documents, furniture and all computers and electronic equipment. Later, civil affairs authorities said they would shut down the organisation.
Gongmeng, comprising scholars, lawyers and rights advocates, applied for a hearing to defend itself under mainland taxation rules. Dr Xu had also been due to attend a hearing with the State Administration of Taxation over the state-level fines yesterday. Mr Teng said if he was not in trouble 'he should show up to the hearing as the legal representative'.
Only two Gongmeng lawyers attended the hearing, which was closely monitored by dozens of police officers yesterday morning.
The organisation said another of its staff, Zhuang Lu, could not be contacted by yesterday evening.
The news of Dr Xu's disappearance quickly spread among mainland rights groups, lawyers and legal professionals, and circulated on the internet. It prompted speculation of further pressure on rights groups and dissidents ahead of the anniversary as authorities have made maintaining social stability a priority.
