A physically-disabled cigarette and beer salesman branded an internet dissident has been detained by Chinese police for threatening state security, a human rights group said on Thursday.
Luo Yongzhong (36) was seized in north-eastern Changchun town for publishing writings on the web critical of the government, the US-based Human Rights in China (HRIC) said.
HRIC said he was accused of penning more than 150 articles denouncing the ”three represents” theory of former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, who remains head of the military.
The ”three represents” maintains that the party should represent advanced cultural forces, advanced production forces and the overwhelming interests of all Chinese.
HRIC said Luo was stopped on June 13 by China’s secret police in Jilin province and had his computer equipment confiscated. He is said to be held in Changchun’s No 3 prison, although no one could be reached for confirmation on Thursday.
Dozens of people have been detained or imprisoned in China for using the internet to peacefully express views or share information, Amnesty International said recently.
In May, China sentenced four young cyber dissidents to lengthy jail terms in what critics said was an intensified crackdown carried out while world attention was focused on the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome epidemic. – Sapa-AFP